Kolkata:
West Bengal governor MK Narayanan has said the political violence going on in the state was a kind of goondaism and not political culture at all. The Governor's strong statement on Wednesday night was prompted by several incidents of violence involving political workers over the last few days.
Mr Narayanan said, "The last two-three days have been distressing and disturbing. We should not tolerate this kind of violence that's taking place. I believe it is the responsibility of the administration to ensure that law and order is maintained." The Governor, who is a former national security advisor, is known to speak in measured terms. He is also seen as supportive of the administration and his intervention is being seen as significant.
"I understand his comments are a very strong message to the Trinamool Congress and the state government. The ruling party should take the message in right earnest and try to correct itself because it is the responsibility of state government and the ruling party to maintain peace and normalcy," CPI leader D Raja said today. The ruling Trinamool is yet to react to the Governor's stern comments.
On Sunday, a 70-year-old CPM leader Rezzak Mollah was beaten up allegedly by a local Trinamool leader, Arabul Islam, in Kanta Tala in the South 24 Parganas district. Then, on Tuesday, CPM and Trinamool supporters, including Arabul Islam, clashed with guns and bombs on the outskirts of Kolkata on Tuesday, leaving at least 40 people injured. Vehicles were burnt and several people landed in hospital, including Arabul Islam. A CPM supporter has bullet wounds.
There were protest rallies and meetings held by both the Trinamool and the Left yesterday and many more are planned. Even former Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya of the CPM joined the Left's protest march in Kolkata for about 10 minutes yesterday. Today, the Congress, now in the Opposition the state, will hold a protest rally in Kolkata.