People's Democracy

Lalgarh Violence: A Campaign of Deceit & Falsification

Sitaram Yechury, leader of the CPI (M) parliamentary party and member of the Polit Bureau, addressing a press conference in the parliament on July 31 spoke about the following latest information regarding the Maoist violence in Lalgarh.

THE manner in which the Trinamool Congress and its leadership who are part of the union government continue to raise the issue of law and order in West Bengal, betrays an age-old diabolical design. It has been a systematic game plan of the opposition in the state to indulge in violence and murderous assault on the leaders and activists of the Left and then use such instances as a ruse to allege failing law and order. It is unfortunate that the union Home minister has fallen prey to such a campaign of deceit and falsification. A series of incidents in which violence has been perpetrated by the opposition principally led and coordinated by the Trinamool Congress where the activists of the Left and the CPI(M) have been invariably the victims have prompted the union Home minister to observe this state as �killing fields�.

In order to uphold the truth it is necessary to put these issues in perspective.

1.     The situation in Lalgarh and adjoining area of West Midnapur district continues to remain dangerous and tense even six weeks after the initiation of the joint operation by the state government and with active cooperation from the central paramilitary forces as part of the national initiative to face the Maoist menace. The security forces presence in the area has not been able to secure peace and eight leaders and activists of the CPI(M) have been killed since the beginning of the operation. A few policemen have also been abducted. Not only have union ministers visited Lalgarh, but they have demanded the calling off of the joint operation forthwith. Union Railway minister has echoed same demand. Does it speak of collective responsibility of the union cabinet with Maoist violence being treated as the �biggest threat to internal security�? So will the government allow the �killing fields� to continue by keeping silent on the development in Lalgarh?

2.     On July 26, on the outskirts of Kolkata in Sonarpur, unprecedentedly the Trinamool Congress goons attacked the MLA of the area, Sri Shyamal Naskar and other important leaders of the CPI(M). Who is responsible for this violence?

3.     On July 29, in a village Natungram in Bardwan in a local factional feud, three villagers were killed. This had nothing to do with political rivalry. This unfortunate incident is being politicised to portray this as an instance of political violence.

4.     On July 30, a procession organised by the CPI(M) in Bhangar with due permission from the local police authorities was attacked by the Trinamool Congress goons. Several CPI(M) activists were injured grievously from bomb splinters which had been hurled indiscriminately. On getting the information the police had rushed to the spot, when even the police was attacked. And few policemen were injured. In the ensuing firing by the police to bring the situation under control, one person was unfortunately killed. Who instigated the violence and who was the aggressor?

5.     A horrendous development has now come to light which has been taking place protractedly in Khejuri, next to Nandigram. In East Midnapoor district, a woman activist of CPI(M), Anjali Maity has been gang raped continuously for a week where the Trinamool goons have established reign of terror and thousands of CPI(M) activists have been rendered homeless. The local Trinamool MP, Subhendu Adhikari justifying such violence claimed on record that there would be absolutely nobody to hold the red flag for the times to come.   Who has unleashed violence in Khejuri?

6.     The unfortunate incident where violence erupted in Mangalkot when the delegation of Congress MLAs visited the spot where a very popular CPI(M) leader and a zilla parishad functionary was heinously killed,  was squarely condemned by the CPI(M) leadership and the chief minister of West Bengal on the floor of the assembly. But the contention of the CPI(M) that the incident for which firm police action has been initiated was sparked by the presence of one of the co-conspirators Nazir Shaikh, responsible for the slain CPI(M) leader Phalguni Mukherjee�s murder along with the Congress delegation has now been established beyond doubt by the video footage shot by local TV journalists. Who is responsible for such violence?

As in the past, the people of Bengal will see through this sinister game of instigating and perpetuating violence and then blame the state government on account of failing law and order. The union Home minister cannot describe Bengal as the �killing fields� and be silent on the identity of those who have unleashed unprecedented violence in the aftermath of the Lok Sabha elections.