See video of Press Briefing:
Monday, April 9, 2018
Sitaram Yechury on West Bengal Panchayet Elections
The attacks going on in West Bengal are not just on the Left Front but on the entire opposition and strikes at the very roots of democracy. We call upon all those who cherish democracy and democratic values to resist these attacks and assert their rights guaranteed under the Constitution" Demand Left Party Leaders in a press conference held in Central Committee office of the CPI(M).
See video of Press Briefing:
Sitaram Yechury on West Bengal Panchayet Elections
See video of Press Briefing:
West Bengal Panchayat Elections: Stop Attacks, Restore Democracy & Democratic Rights
West Bengal Panchayat Elections:
Stop Attacks, Restore Democracy & Democratic Rights
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Submission of nominations by Left Front and opposition candidates obstructed.
·
Block and SDO offices are cordoned off by TMC armed gangs.
·
Attacks on opposition activists and candidates in all districts.
·
More than 200 people have been injured.
·
State Election Commission is virtually defunct.
·
Police is complicit in attacks on Left, not enforcing standing law and order
rules.
There is an unprecedented attack on the basic
democratic right to file nominations for the panchayat elections in West
Bengal.
The ruling Trinamul Congress has resorted to a
full-fledged assault on democracy and the rule of law by capturing the block
development offices (BDOs), sub-divisional offices (SDOs) and even District
Magistrate offices in some districts to obstruct and drive away opposition
candidates from filing nominations for the three-tier panchayat elections.
This is a form of pre-election rigging which makes the
election a farce.
Since 2nd April when filing of nominations began for all
three phases of polling, the state has witnessed the shameful spectacle of TMC
goons stationed at the administrative offices physically assaulting and chasing
away candidates of the opposition and of the Left parties in particular.
Hundreds of Left and opposition candidates have
been injured, their identity cards and other papers snatched away. In many
places, offices of the parties have been raided by TMC men to snatch away
papers and to threaten people.
On April 5th, Ramachandra Dome, former MP and a member of the Central
Committee who was leading a group of candidates to file nominations at Nalhati
in Birbhum district was brutally attacked and suffered a head injury.
In all these attacks, the police have refused to
intervene, or, are in connivance with the TMC men.
The time given for filing of nominations for all
three phases is only between 2nd and 9th April. This is too short. At the same time, the
time for withdrawals is also one week, unusually long. It is apprehended that
this time will be used to intimidate opposition candidates to withdraw.
If the panchayat elections are not to be a farcical
exercise, it is imperative that:
(i)
All those who wish to file their nominations are allowed to do so without any
fear and intimidation;
(ii)
For this, the time for filing nominations should be extended wherever required;
(iii)
Where candidates were prevented from filing nominations, alternative
arrangements should be made for them to register their candidature in secure
conditions.
(iv)
Firm action should be taken against all those indulging in hooliganism,
intimidation and encirclement of administrative offices.
The attacks going on in West Bengal are not just on the
Left Front but on the entire opposition and strikes at the very roots of
democracy.
We call upon all those who cherish democracy and
democratic values to resist these attacks and assert their rights guaranteed
under the Constitution.
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Sitaram Yechury
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D Raja
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Kavita Krishnan
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CPI(M)
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CPI
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CPI(UML)-Liberation
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Pran Nath
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Dharmendra Kumar
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SUCI(C)
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AIFB
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Date: Friday, April 6, 2018
Saturday, July 16, 2016
“Come and See Blood on the Streets”
By Nilotpal Basu
Peoples Democracy, 5th
June, 2016
THE playing out of gruesome
violence in post-poll West Bengal will put many a horrific nightmare to shame.
What makes this violence almost inexplicable to the uninitiated in the
`hell-hole’ of the present political landscape of the state is the `massive
mandate’, which columnists and contributors are so eloquent in articulating. No
wonder! We have been tutored since our childhood to believe that `victors’ have
to be forgiving; there is no room for vengeance in triumph.
But, obviously, not so in present
West Bengal. In fact, what is playing out is quite the contrary. The TMC chief
and the re-elected chief minister had held out the threat in the run-up to the
election in repeated public meetings that once re-elected, the new
administration would see to it `inch by inch’ that the efforts of the people
and the opposition to defeat the TMC is ‘taken care of’. The campaign had
highlighted quite blatant threats to the Election Commission and sections of
the administration who were active under the `model code of conduct’ for
ensuring a free and fair polls to the assembly. It may otherwise escape the
attention of the ‘columnists’ but only 32 lakhs separate the popular support of
the TMC front from that of the opposition; but the TMC is most acutely aware of
this reality. So, even though it may appear to be otherwise inexplicable, the
violence can only be decoded by the special, if not obnoxious, nature of the
regime that lords over West Bengal. It is an out and out authoritarian regime
that runs the state. It was the same before the elections; now even more so.
THE EMERGING PATTERN OF
VIOLENCE
That the rule of law is at best a
notional idea in the state is clear. Despite the efforts of holding free and
fair poll, the fact remains that four CPI(M) activists were killed in the
run-up to the elections. And, each of these killings were directly linked to
undermine the opposition and, in particular, the CPI(M) and the Left. The violence
was linked to targeting of polling agents and potential polling agents and
specifically aimed at scaring away voters. In most of these cases, the killers
who have been named in the police complaints have not been arrested.
Despite the atmosphere of terror
and intimidation, popular urge for exercising the franchise was visible. That
the `MCC’ regime of the couple of months since the announcement of the election
dates could not completely neutralise the affects of terror is also equally
true. Therefore, the present spate of violence is particularly targeting the
`resistance’ and its nucleus – CPI(M) and the Left. The clear design is to
dismantle and decimate the Party and the Left, as well as, all other opposition
forces.
In these pages, details of the
violence have been chronicled in the last few issues. For sure, given the
current trend, it will continue to be reported for quite some time in the
future. But what has to be noted is not just the physical description of the
violence; but the pattern which reveals this sinister design.
Notwithstanding the spread of the
violence across the length and breadth of the 20 districts of the state, what
is particularly noteworthy is the fact that violence and terror has been more
intense and focused in areas where the opposition has managed to register an
electoral victory over the TMC, be it an assembly segment, or a municipal ward
or panchayat or even a single polling booth. The basic idea is to stifle the
spirit of resistance and rupture the links with the people which have resulted
in the electoral reverse of the ruling party in these places.
SOME ISSUES WHICH NEEDS TO
BE UNDERLINED
That areas which need to be
specially noted to understand this cynical plot takes us to the Jadavpur
assembly constituency. In 2011 assembly elections, Buddhadeb Bhattacharya was
defeated by over 30,000 votes. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the CPI(M)
candidate trailed substantially. In most of the municipal wards, massive
rigging led to the defeat of the Left candidates in the Kolkata municipal
elections. However, this time around, Sujan Chakraborty, CPI(M) state
secretariat member, won by nearly 15,000 votes. Not only that, he scored a lead
in each of the ten municipal wards. This was made possible by both popular
resistance as well as the measures initiated by the EC. Chakraborty defeated
the incumbent power minister and former home secretary who was the TMC nominee.
The chief minister herself had cast doubts about the results and expressed the
need for `going into the matter’. Naturally, that is now playing out in the
most medieval violence that has been let loose on not only the Party and the
Left but even common voters. Attacks on houses and capture of Party offices is
now the every day reality.
Another such area is Haldia, the
industrial hub which adjoins Nandigram. In this area, the Party and the Left
not only faced the violence by the TMC but also attempted disruption by the
newly-formed party of Lakshman Seth, former MP and former Party state committee
member who had been expelled for his anti-people and anti-Party activities. But
braving all these, a woman, Tapasi Mondal of the CPI(M) was elected by over
10,000 votes. Therefore, this area has also come as a special target where
indiscriminate violence including that on the house of the newly elected MLA is
for all there to see. One could go on with countless similar instances.
Countless offices of the CPI(M),
different mass and class organisations across the state have been forcibly
occupied, gutted, demolished. Party leaders, mass organisation leaders, elected
members at the local level, candidates and, of course, voters, none are being
spared. Areas in which the TMC had to suffer reverse, voters are asked to pay
an exorbitant amount as fines for carrying on their life and livelihood in
their home and hearth.
The most cynical aspect of this
violence is the complete inaction of the police administration in dealing with
offences which stem from political vendetta. The reasons are not hard to find.
Officers of the civil and the police administration who had been transferred
out by the Election Commission during the pendency of MCC have been reverted
back to their earlier positions immediately on the assumption of office,
notwithstanding the public approval of officers who had covered themselves with
positive impact on the fairness of the election process. Similarly, number of
ministers who had lost the elections had been appointed in high level positions
in their respective erstwhile departments. This is to send out a clear message
that these defeats are of no consequence, so far as the ruling party is
concerned!
THE THREAT OF COMMUNAL
POLARISATION
The intense orchestrated violence
is accompanied with another major threat of communal polarisation. The repeated
visits of prime minister Modi in West Bengal in the run up to the assembly
elections and his `intended’ attacks on the TMC was to create an atmosphere of
polarisation and to cut down the possible electoral loss for the TMC. The North
Bengal districts which were considered a strong ground for the Left and secular
opposition saw a more pronounced presence of the BJP. Two of its three seats
where they have won falls in this region. The votes polled by BJP in North
Bengal is 16 percent as compared to 8 percent in the south Bengal districts.
Overall, the BJP’s vote share has come down from 17 percent in 2014 Lok Sabha
elections to 10 percent in the 2016 assembly elections. It is also clear that
the victories were registered due to unusual decrease of the TMC votes in these
seats.
Naturally, this selective presence
of the BJP and the accompanying communal campaign is complemented by the TMC’s
pandering to minority communal forces. The latest evidence of this is in the
form of inclusion of Siddiqullah Chaudhury who was till the other day
associated with Jamaat-e-Ulema and had openly supported the activities of
fundamentalist groups in Bangladesh.
Therefore, it is the continuous
quid-pro-quo between the ruling party in the centre and that in the state will
loom large.
The authoritarian build-up during
the last five years will be further accentuated is a fact which is becoming
increasingly clear.
RESISTANCE AND UNITY
While it is clear that the violence
that we are witnessing is far more intense and widespread than in the `hoodlum
days’ of the seventies and the semi-fascist regime of Siddharth Shankar Ray,
the growing unity of the people is also something which one cannot miss.
Braving the violence in the very initial days of these post-poll violence are
signs of resistance in certain areas. Villagers, poor people who have got
together, chased away miscreants and attackers. There has been widespread
revulsion against an incident where a pregnant woman had to suffer a
miscarriage of her unborn foetus when she was pushed and kicked while
attempting to save her husband and his companions from the attacks launched by
the TMC goons. There is major protest particularly in the social media over the
lynching of a girl student in Ashutosh College in South Kolkata when she went
to collect her admit card for the examination simply because she happens to be
an SFI activist.
Therefore, unity and resistance, is
the way forward. Authoritarianism cannot be permanent. Issues of policy of both
the central and state governments will definitely adversely affect the life and
livelihood of the people. Struggle for restoration of democracy and against
these anti-people policies will go hand-in-hand to restore civil rights. It is
with this in mind that the CPI(M) Polit Bureau, in its recently-held meeting,
has given a clarion call: “Under these circumstances, the CPI(M) calls upon the
people of West Bengal to unitedly resist this murder of democracy and civil
liberties in the state. The strength of the people’s unity is the answer to
meet this unprecedented unleashing of violence.”
TMC ATTACK SINCE POLL ANNOUNCEMENT 2016
INTENSIVE political violence against the opposition is continuing after election results have been declared in West Bengal. Ten Left Front activists have been killed during and after the election process, four of them after the declaration of results. But the magnitude of the attack cannot be comprehended only through the number of the killed. 1,924 activists and supporters have been injured in the attack; many of them were admitted in hospitals. More than 9,200 persons have been rendered homeless, 2,876 houses were ransacked, destroyed or burnt. At least in 12 cases, cluster of houses in the villages were put to flames. In a clear message that opposition parties will not be allowed to function in a normal manner, offices of Left parties and mass organisations were attacked, destroyed, ransacked, seized or burnt in large numbers. 575 offices of the CPI(M) or Left parties and 128 offices of mass organisations were attacked in these ways. Another feature is the direct attack on livelihood. Hundreds of shops, mostly small, belonging to Left supporters were looted and ransacked. In villages, ‘suspected’ Left voters are being denied jobs including MNREGA. In industrial areas or in construction sites casual and contract workers are sacked. There is all-pervasive atmosphere of fear in government offices, municipalities and rural level administration.
Thursday, June 30, 2016
Victor’s violence
Victor’s violence: The repeated attacks on the oppostion after the Trinamool Congress scored a huge victory vindicate the allegation that the ruling party wants an opposition-free political scenario in the State. By SUHRID SANKAR CHATTOPADHYAY
http://www.frontline.in/politics/victors-violence/article8700834.ece
CPI(M) Will Fight Back Terror in West Bengal
KOLKATA, 13th
June:
THE CPI(M) has decided to develop broader unity to resist violent attacks on
people in West Bengal after the elections. The state committee meeting of the
Party, on June 11-12 called upon the Party workers and people to stand in
unison against murderous attacks. Party will also focus on issues of livelihood
to build up class and mass movements.
Eight Left Front activists have
been killed during and after the election process, two of them after the
declaration of results. But the magnitude of the attack cannot be comprehended
only through the number of the killed. 1,924 activists and supporters have been
injured in the attack; many of them were admitted in hospitals. More than 9,200
persons have been rendered homeless, 2,876 houses were ransacked, destroyed or
burnt. At least in 12 cases, cluster of houses in the villages were put to
flames.
In a clear message that opposition
parties will not be allowed to function in a normal manner, offices of Left
parties and mass organisations were attacked, destroyed, ransacked, seized or
burnt in large numbers. 575 offices of the CPI(M) or Left parties and 128
offices of mass organisations were attacked in these ways.
Another feature is the direct
attack on livelihood. Hundreds of shops, mostly small, belonging to Left
supporters were looted and ransacked. In villages, ‘suspected’ Left voters are
being denied jobs including MNREGA. In industrial areas or in construction
sites casual and contract workers are sacked. There is all-pervasive atmosphere
of fear in government offices, municipalities and rural level administration.
CPI(M) has decided to launch
movement to defend democratic, civil rights at four levels. Firstly, Party will
build up movements with independent strength. There will be resistance keeping
in mind the objective situation of the area, mobilising people. Secondly, the
Left Front will initiate programmes, discussing the details in the Front.
Thirdly, CPI(M) will strive for united action with Left parties outside the
Left Front, on issues. The Party wants to build up broader Left unity. And,
lastly, broader mobilisation will be done including the friendly parties of
Left Front like RJD, JD(U), NCP and other secular parties. This may include
Congress too in different localities. CPI(M) will try to build up broadest possible
peoples unity in the process. It is urgently needed to develop broad platforms
to resist fascistic onslaught on rights and livelihood of the people.
In the state committee meeting of
the Party, primary review of the election results was conducted. After the
meeting, state secretary Surjyakanta Misra briefed media on some of the aspects
of this review. The entire election process was conducted in an atmosphere of
terror. The reign of terror, prevailing in the state for last five years have
impacted organisational strength of the Party too. In many areas, proper
organisational activities could not be stepped up during elections because of
this atmosphere. While it was true that voting was more peaceful than 2014 Lok
Sabha elections, many distortions took place. In many constituencies, 20 to 60
booths witnessed rampant false voting, capturing, and ouster of opposition
polling agents. Peoples’ verdict was not reflected properly in these areas,
making an overall impact on the results. Election Commission has not been able
to implement corrective measures in such cases. In fact, the EC has taken steps
in five percent of allegations filed by Left parties.
Review also identified
organisational weakness of the Party. In many areas, proper organisational work
could not be conducted at booth level. Despite large gatherings in public
meeting, door to door contact was weak. Alienation with people in different
areas could not be overcome yet. But, it was clear that wherever organisational
activities were regular and relations with people was maintained, the result
was comparatively better. As Left, democratic, secular forces fought this
election together, it is difficult to separate vote share among them. In 169
assembly constituencies, votes for these candidates have increased. Within
assembly constituencies, aggregate vote and share of Left candidates have
increased in large number of booths as well. Booth level detail review will be
done to ascertain the reasons of increase or decline of votes.
Misra said the discussion in the
state committee has shown that enthusiasm and spontaneous response among Left
supporters grew during the election process. However, it could not be
translated into increase of votes proportionately everywhere.
Misra has categorically asserted that
Left Front will remain united and will continue to fight on peoples’ issues.
There may be some difference in perceptions among the constituents, which has
happened in the past too. But these differences will be resolved through
discussion within the front.
Widespread Attack Continues in West Bengal
KOLKATA, 30th
May, 2016:
INTENSIVE political violence against the opposition is continuing after
election results have been declared in West Bengal.
Nine Left Front activists have been
killed during and after the election process, two of them after the declaration
of results. But the magnitude of the attack cannot be comprehended only through
the number of the killed. 1,924 activists and supporters have been injured in
the attack; many of them were admitted in hospitals.
More than 9,200 persons have been
rendered homeless, 2,876 houses were ransacked, destroyed or burnt. At least in
12 cases, cluster of houses in the villages were put to flames.
In a clear message that opposition
parties will not be allowed to function in a normal manner, offices of Left
parties and mass organisations were attacked, destroyed, ransacked, seized or
burnt in large numbers. 575 offices of the CPI(M) or Left parties and 128 offices
of mass organisations were attacked in these ways. Another feature is the
direct attack on livelihood.
Hundreds of shops, mostly small,
belonging to Left supporters were looted and ransacked. In villages,
‘suspected’ Left voters are being denied jobs including MNREGA. In industrial
areas or in construction sites casual and contract workers are sacked. There is
all-pervasive atmosphere of fear in government offices, municipalities and
rural level administration.
In Basudebpur village in Purba
Medinipur district, CPI(M) activist Amit Pradhan was brutally killed by the TMC
gang. His only ‘fault’ was that he was a polling agent of the CPI(M) in
Bhagabanpur assembly constituency. Pradhan, along with his father was kidnapped
by the TMC miscreants. Amit, 32 and father of a child, was mercilessly beaten
to death. Even after this brutality, the TMC activists tried to snatch his
body, probably to cover up murder. However, the villagers were able to send his
body to Medinipur district hospital.
Amit Pradhan was martyred. But
thousand others who were the polling agents of Left parties and opposition like
him have become special targets of the TMC attack after polls. Many of them
have suffered serious injuries, their houses attacked and ransacked, family
members tortured. Many have been forced to leave their residences. Hundred
others have been ordered to pay ‘fine’ to stay at their home.
After the election results were out
in the state, the attacks organised by the ruling party are widespread but they are meticulously
planned too. They have particularly targeted areas where the Left and the
opposition got wide support. TMC has also targeted particular booth areas,
booth level activists and important functionaries at local level. Apart from
physical attack, all-out assault on houses are designed to instill fear among
people.
CPI(M) state secretary Surjyakanta
Mishra has alleged that the target of the ruling party is to eliminate the
opposition as a whole. Even after a big win, they are afraid of people.
In Basirhat, barbaric attack took
place in village Panigobra. CPI(M) has won in Basirhat (North) constituency,
defeating the TMC. The defeated MLA of the TMC led the attack in the village
which has mostly supported the Left Front in the elections. TMC goons went to
Panigobra and tried to disrupt a meeting of CPI(M) supporters there. But
initially they were chased away by the villagers. After some time, TMC mobilised armed gangs from many places in
the area and cordoned Panigobra. They attacked and ransacked houses, looted
many shops too and then set fire to houses. TMC gangs blocked the road to the
village so that police and fire tenders could not reach. When the police managed
to enter the village, TMC miscreants attacked police too and some of the
policemen suffered injuries. Hundreds of villagers were forced to flee the
village. Panigobra remained deserted for a week. The villagers have lost almost
everything, from household materials to utensils. Burnt houses, remnants of
structures reflect the wrath of the ruling party in post poll West Bengal.
The residents of a neighbouring
village extended their help and it was they who started feeding women and
children from 250 families of Panigobra who were forced to leave . CPI(M)
organised a relief camp for all – including the TMC supporters. But once again
this effort at peace was disturbed as the TMC leaders threatened to dismantle
the camp.
In Narayangarh in West Midnapore,
TMC attacked and looted the houses of CPI(M) district secretariat member Anil
Patra and Party’s Narayangarh local committee secretary Sushen Sahu. They
ransacked both houses, looted cycles, household materials, damaged doors and
windows. CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Surjyakanta Mishra contested from
Narayangarh.
Newly elected MLA of Bishnupur in
Bankura, Tushar Kanti Bhattacharya was attacked.
In Barjora, TMC gangs attacked and
destroyed a number of CPI(M) offices in Pakhanna, Tajpur and other villages.
Newly elected CPI(M) MLA Sujit Chakraborty along with other Party leaders went
to the affected villages. When they were returning, TMC gangs gheraoed their car. The car of Chakraborty was
ransacked. The miscreants tried to drag him out of the car. He suffered an injury
in right hand but could leave the place somehow.
Newly elected CPI(M) MLA Tapashi
Mondal’s house was attacked in Haldia. Her house was ransacked.
As the attack continues, the
resistance is also growing.
In Patrasayar in Bankura, TMC
forced the villagers in Kantor to join their victory rally though the Left
Front candidate was ahead in this village in the election. Naturally the
villagers were not enthusiastic to join the TMC rally. Later a TMC gang
attacked houses but villagers came out in numbers and resisted the attack. Some
of the villagers were injured.
In Gotan village in Raina in
Burdwan district, TMC organised armed gangs from neighbouring Hooghly district
and attacked the houses of CPI(M) supporters. They began to loot the houses.
First voice of protest came from Minati Roy, a 35 year old housewife. The
miscreants assaulted her, snatched her earrings leaving her bleeding. This
incident ignited women of the village who came out with whatever they could
gather. They chased TMC miscreants and villagers joined in united resistance.
TMC miscreants hurled bombs and one villager Mritunjoy Bag was injured. He was
hospitalised.
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Uniting ‘secular, democratic’ forces
Interview with Surjya Kanta
Mishra, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member and Leader of the Opposition in the West
Bengal Assembly. By SUHRID SANKAR CHATTOPADHYAY
FRONTLINE, Published:
March 30, 2016 12:30 IST | Updated: April 5, 2016 13:18 IST
SURJYA
KANTA MISHRA, Polit Bureau member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and
State secretary of the party, is the face of the opposition in the State. In
this exclusive interview with Frontline, Mishra says that it is the
people’s urge to replace the Trinamool Congress government that has prompted
different secular democratic political parties to come together. Excerpts:
You are
the face of the opposition in West Bengal and you are leading the electoral
battle against the ruling Trinamool Congress. Though premature at this moment,
how do you think the elections will span out?
First, I
do not believe that I am the face either of the opposition or of the party. We
believe, as Jyotibabu [Jyoti Basu] used to say, it is the people who make
history. It is the people who are our face ultimately. We have been reiterating
from time to time that the Left and democratic front is possible only by the
change of the correlation of class forces.
As for
the election battle, I think it is spanning out on the lines we had envisaged.
What we have is a new challenge that we have never faced before. In the 1970s
we faced a challenge when the question of democracy had become the foremost
question. Today, added to the attack on democracy is the threat to the secular
fabric of West Bengal.
The
unholy alliance between the ruling party in the State and the BJP at the Centre
has been instrumental in fuelling communal passions, resulting in communal
polarisation. This is to their mutual benefit. Their basic economic policies
remain the same so far as livelihood of the poor is concerned.
Theirs is
a three-pronged attack—on democracy, on secularism, and on the livelihood of
the masses. Our foremost task is to oust this government—our call is to oust
the TMC to save Bengal and to oust the BJP to save India.
There
have been no free and fair elections after 2011 and it is of utmost importance
for all secular democratic forces to unite to fight the coming battle. The
battle has to be organised at the grass-roots level irrespective of political
affiliations as all sections are under attack. It is the urge of the people to
replace the government that has prompted different secular democratic political
parties to discuss with each other how this objective can be realised.
How is
the opposition combine working out?
The
fundamental change in the situation now [from 2011 when the Trinamool
Congress-Congress alliance came to power] is that the constituents of the
rainbow alliance with which Mamata Banerjee came to power have all deserted her
and her party. They realised how impossible it is to stay with her as they were
repeatedly subjected to attacks. Even people within her own party are not
spared. There is turf war happening everywhere and Trinamool members are
killing each other regularly. Most of the constituents which deserted her
approached us and asked us to take the initiative and lead the battle for
democracy. Ultimately it was the urge of the people.
I must
also add that one cannot manufacture anything in a vacuum, and the situation
for the secular democratic forces to come together was created by the Left
through its different political programmes. People began to think that it was
possible to defeat this government provided the votes were not divided.
How far
is the opposition likely to capitalise on this latest setback for the ruling
party brought about by the Narada News sting operation?
To us it
is a political battle. It is not about simply capitalising on an issue. This
new global order, and the neoliberal economy pursued in the country, itself
breeds corruption. The sting vindicates how corrupt the top levels of the
Trinamool party are. Such a thing has never happened in Bengal before and it is
our shame. Imagine the police chief of a district taking money authorised by
the ruling party! What role can be expected from such police to ensure proper
voting? This is a manifestation of the economic system that we live in.
But there
is no denying that there is match-fixing between the BJP and the Trinamool on
the Narada issue. The BJP referred the matter to the Ethics Committee in the
Lok Sabha, but then in the Rajya Sabha, the Chair had to say that the
government does not want an investigation. We do not know what kind of an
understanding the Trinamool and the BJP have reached. But we do know that the
Trinamool is nervous now.
How do
you assess the performance of the government in the areas of agriculture and
industry?
In the
unforeseen agrarian crisis in the State, 167 farmers committed suicide, and the
Chief Minister sent a report to the Centre saying that there have been no
suicides. Take the case of the tea industry where there have been hundreds of
starvation deaths, and she sent a report stating that there have been no
starvation deaths. Not just the tea industry, see the condition of other
industries as well, particularly the jute industry, the engineering industry,
the SMEs [small and medium enterprises], etc. In the last seven years of Left
Front rule, job creation in West Bengal in the manufacturing sector was the
highest in the country according to NSS [National Sample Survey] data. Gujarat
was a distant second.
Now there
is drastic reduction in employment in the manufacturing sector in the State.
This reflects the health of the industry. Industries are simply running away
from the State.
What is
the Left’s strategy in this election?
We have
highlighted the achievements of 34 years of Left rule; and, of course, we
looked into our weaknesses too, so we can learn from them. We are comparing
that with what has been happening in the last five years under the Trinamool.
Our point is to go to the people and learn from them, find out what they want.
That is our strategy.
© Frontline: Apr 5,
2016 4:18:49 PM
Sunday, April 10, 2016
Are Trinamool MPs harbouring Bangladeshi terrorists in WB?
February 12, 2014 15:36 IST
Several politicians from
West Bengal are under scrutiny for sheltering Jammat-e-Islami and Chaatra
Shibir operatives, says a Intelligence Bureau note to the Home Ministry. Vicky
Nanjappa reports
An Intelligence Bureau
note to Minister of State for Home, R P N Singh, states that terrorist groups
plan to bring in arms and ammunition to India across the porous Bangladesh
border. The consignment is expected to land in West Bengal.
This information is
significant as several leaders from the Trinamool Congress face allegations of
sheltering Jammat-e-Islami and Chaatra Shibir operatives.
IB officials say that
members of these outfits are being driven out of Bangladesh and are taking
refuge in West Bengal. Several politicians from the state are under scrutiny
for sheltering these operatives. The IB is monitoring these links and a couple
of names, including one who was recently elected to the Rajya Sabha, have
surfaced.
The IB says that some
MP’s who have had close links with the SIMI are shielding the Jamaat militants
in India, who have local support.
Nearly 40 militants, who
fled Bangladesh, are hiding in West Bengal, says the IB.
Like in Bihar, the
agencies have found it extremely hard to track down militants of the Jamaat in
West Bengal. While in Bihar it was the Indian Mujahideen, in West Bengal it is
the Jamaat and the SIMI that is a cause of worry.
They land in West Bengal
and are then whisked away to remote areas of the state. Even the local police
do not appear to be doing much. Often it has been found that the police are
deliberately tightlipped due to pressure from the top, an officer with the IB
said.
The TMC has often been
accused of patronising the politics of religious fundamentalism. Biman Bose of
the Left Front had said that the TMC was shielding Islamic fundamentalists who
have been rejected by Bangladesh.
“When Bangladesh police
operate in Satkhira, and Jamaat cadres have to flee, they get shelter from the
Trinamool MP in Basirhat,” Biman Bose had alleged.
Bose also made an
allegation against Ahmed Hassan, who was sent to the Rajya Sabha and said that
he was close to the Jamaat and was a correspondent of the Jamaat’s
newspaper, Naya Diganta.
He feels that this is an
attempt deliberately made to disrupt a drive undertaken by Bangladesh Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina.
A few days ago Sheikh
Fazlul Karim Selim, a member of the Awami League in Bangladesh, had raised the
same issue. He made a request to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to
hand over Jamaat-e-Islami terrorists who had taken shelter in India.
Selim urged India not to
harbour these terrorists, who he said fled to the neighbouring country during
the joint force's recent operation in Satkhira.
Security agencies say
that the situation appears to be going from bad to worse and there are clear instructions
to put anyone supporting Bangladeshi militants on the radar.
The SIMI which has taken
refuge in Bangladesh has already shown what it is capable of. The operations of
the Indian Mujahideen, thanks to Amir Reza Khan, were largely witnessed in Bangladesh.
The protecting of Jamaat
operatives who naturally ally with the radical wing of the SIMI only adds to
the problem.
The Home Ministry says
that West Bengal is the easiest route for Bangladeshi militants to smuggle in
arms and ammunition. The radical SIMI on the other hand will aide this as they
have a lot of benefit and are looking to carry out strikes in India.
There is a sizeable SIMI
cadre that relies on political support as a result of which the Bangladesh
militants issue has blown out of proportion, Intelligence Bureau officials
point out.
It is important for
India to share a good rapport with Bangladesh since we face a common terrorism
problem. Bangladesh expects us to hand over these militants and also cooperate
to expect the same from them, IB officials also point out.
Vicky Nanjappa in Bengaluru
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