Author: Ananya Dutta
Publication: The Hindu
Date: June 1, 2011
URL: http://www.hindu.com/2011/06/01/stories/2011060163191000.htm
Claiming that an alarming situation had been
created in West Bengal since the results of the Assembly elections were announced
on May 13, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, member of the Polit Bureau of the Communist
Party of India (Marxist) on Tuesday called for an immediate end to the attacks
on supporters and offices of the Left parties.
"On counting day, even as the votes were
being counted, news of attacks across the State came pouring in…We are
facing a new kind of attack. The first phase was when they gained control
over or broke down hundreds of our party offices - hoisting their party flags
in place of the red flags. Then began the attacks on our supporters - 12 persons
have been killed so far," Mr. Bhattacharjee told a rally organised by
the Left Front to protest the 'anti-people' polices of the Centre and the
attacks on the Left parties.
Mr. Bhattacharjee also pointed to another
"absurd occurrence" - the recovery of arms wrapped in red flags
from party offices of the CPI(M).
"The Trinamool Congress leaders and the
police are jointly going to the CPI (M) party offices to conduct raids. Together
they are unearthing weapons. This is a dangerous situation and the administration
should call an immediate halt to this," he said.
He said the people would never believe these
claims arising from raids conducted jointly by a political party and the police.
This was "unacceptable."
The former Chief Minister outlined the future
agenda of the Left Front, which will be in the Opposition for the first time
in 34 years.
"We know that the elections are over
and the Left Front has been defeated. But even in the face of these attacks
we know that one crore and ninety-five lakh people of West Bengal voted for
us," he said.
