People's Democracy

‘Rule of Anti-socials Now in West Bengal’                    

From Our Special Correspondent in Kolkata

THE people of West Bengal are now being left at the mercy of anti-social elements, said Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. In two consecutive mass rallies in North 24 Parganas, Bhattacharjee said, “Anti-socials have realised that they can get away with anything, the party in power is theirs as is the government. Not only are they being provided shelter; the signals being sent out from Writers’ Building indicate that they are free to engage in anarchy.”

Almost every day, the people of the state are now witnessing violence led by the ruling party leaders or the anti-socials promoted by them. The range of attack has already spread from CPI(M) and the Left activists to various sections of the people. Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee questioned the attitude of the state government and said the people would not tolerate the rule of the anti-socials. The time has come to break the silence. The coming Panchayat elections in the state will decide who would win – the anti-socials or the peoples’ power. Left Front will not surrender any space in the elections despite terror.

Underlining that all development had come to a standstill in the state with both the industrial and agricultural sectors languishing, Bhattacharjee said the state government instead of directing its resources for the development of the state, was bringing out full-page advertisements in newspapers with chief minister’s profile splashing all over and is funding festivals. Kolkata is being painted blue and trident street lamps being put up even as the government claims it has no money. Is this not expenditure? The government’s money is public money and it must explain such expenses to the people.  

What is of utmost disappointment is a dangerous stagnation in industries. Bhattacharjee said the government has no industrial policy; it had not moved a single step forward in the past twenty months. Industrialists were no longer keen to invest in the state. On the contrary, companies are leaving the IT hub in the Kolkata too. After damaging the prospect of industrialisation as opposition, TMC is damaging the prospect of new industries as ruling party too. In the agrarian sector, farmers are committing suicide.