Author: Express News Service
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: May 1, 2008
The RSP, a partner of the ruling Left Front
on Wednesday came down heavily on big brother CPM. Accusing the CPM of becoming
Fascists, RSP claimed the party will be their main opponent in the upcoming
panchayat polls.
Public Works department minister Kshiti Goswami
announced this at a meet the press programme at the Kolkata Press Club.
RSP has fielded 7,000 candidates in the polls
and 80 per cent of them are pitted against the CPM, he said.
"In places like Basanti in South 24 Parganas,
Khanakul and Arambagh, the CPM has beaten up our candidates and threatened
them not to contest the polls. They had to file their nominations from the
SDO offices. CPM goons had beat up some of our men who were on their way back
from a party conference at Bolpur. They are acting like Fascists," Goswami
said.
He alleged that the panchayat system has degenerated
over the years and money is being siphoned off for vested interests.
Bloc for monitoring body to supervise panchayat
work
Forward Bloc state Secretary Ashok Ghosh said
on Wednesday that he had suggested to Left Front Chairman Biman Bose for the
formation of a monitoring committee to supervise the work of panchayats. Ghosh
said this at a meet the press programme at the Kolkata Press Club. Accusing
the CPM of trying to spread hegemony, the Bloc leader said that there was
no unity among the Front partners as the CPM tried to lord it over others.
He also alleged that the CPM has fielded dummy candidates against the Bloc
candidates at Arambagh and Cooch Behar. "This is unfair and unethical,"
he said.
