KOLKATA, 17th JUNE, 2009-The Bengal Left Front met on the morning of 17 June at the Muzaffar Ahmad Bhavan. Biman Basu, chairman, Bengal LF subsequently briefed the media. Biman said that the Bengal Left Front has appealed to the mass of the people, the democratically-conscious citizens of Bengal to come out protesting strongly, widely the manner in which the democratic fabric of the polity was sought to be destroyed by the marauding criminals of the Trinamul Congress, its allies, the Pradesh Congress, and the self-styled ‘Maoists.’
Right after the outcome of the Lok Sabha election was known, these forces of anarchism and disorder started a violence-laden campaign of blood-letting of the CPI (M) and the Left Front workers, all over Bengal. The Pradesh Congress forms an energetic actor in some district in this completely condemnable exercise against the masses. The LF has called upon peace-loving denizens to come out with strong protests against the killings, the arson, the molestation, and the pillage.
Forgetting, in a gesture filled with inhumanity, the terrible cyclonic storm and lashing rain that affected the coastal districts of Bengal in particular, often making inland inroads, the Bengal opposition stood as one in their self-proclaimed ‘punishment’ mode of the people, and of the CPI (M) which has remained as ever in the van of the people’s movement for their hard-earned, hard-fought democratic rights.
Biman noted that it was the belief of the LF that in the manner and intensity that mark the attack on the democratic masses, the CPI (M), and the LF constituents, ‘we are reminded of the semi-fascist terror of the 1970s.’ The Left Front has been in office for the past 32+ years. There has never been a single incident where the people who have not voted for the LF have been subjected to heinous attacks including killing, arson, looting, and plundering.
The rights and the dignity of the opposition and of their supporters are held sacrosanct in Bengal under the governance of the LF. Nevertheless, pointed out the senior CPI (M) leader, the past decade witnessed an ill-gotten attempt by the Trinamul Congress and its lackeys to destroy the democratic fabric.
Between 1970 and 1977, harking back along the path of history, Biman felt that it needs recalling, 1200 CPI (M) workers including the state committee member Jiban Maity, along with the senior Forward Bloc leader Hemanta Basu were killed, and killed brutally. 20 thousand families of CPI (M) workers and supporters had to flee from their residences, indeed from the localities of their livelihoods as well, for agonisingly, frighteningly long periods of time.
The historic election of 1977 witnessed the defeat and débâcle and in a comprehensive manner, of the authoritarian, anti-people forces. On the day the final outcome of the Assembly election was known, the late lamented Bengal CPI (M) secretary, comrade Promode Dasgupta, and the much-respected Communist leader, Jyoti Basu issued appeals repeatedly to the people that they should never-ever be vengeful on the criminals of 1970-1977. As a consequence, no violence was seen in the post-polls days, weeks, months, and years.
The contrary has been allowed by the worthies of the opposition to happen this time around. The opposition leadership would mutter the word ‘peace,’ but they, including central ministers, would provoke their followers by declaring frequently that nobody would be allowed to remain Bengal to hold aloft the Red Flag. If this was not provocation, said Biman, ‘we do not what is.’
An ugly attempt is essayed to pass of as ‘popular rage,’ the carefully, coolly, planned assaults on the people. Assassinations are orchestrated, and it is unfortunate, most unfortunate indeed, Biman declared, that a section of the media, a pillar of democracy, was found gleeful in shamelessly supporting the attacks and the killings and the arson and the brigandage.
Leave apart the history of the world down the years the media here would not even stop to recall the experience they had themselves suffered from in Bengal itself. The section of the media that was over-joyous at the destruction of democracy in 1972 subsequently had to undergo the humiliating experience of having to spend some ‘prime time’ behind bars. The LF appealed to the forces that were ‘encouraged’ at the de novo rise of neo-fascism in the state to desist from supporting these dark forces for that would ultimately harm everyone in Bengal.
The Left will mend their ways whenever found necessary as always, but, declared Biman, ‘we shall never bow low before aggression.’ ‘We,’ continued the LF chairman, ‘may suffer from being killed brutally, but we shall always remain with the people, fighting for their democratic rights.’
The neo-fascist attacks might have started as a drive against the Communists and the Left movement, but it would inevitably spread its fangs and talons over the general democratic rights of the people, over their lives and livelihoods, over their honour and dignity, and finally over their social security.
The Left Front also called upon the state administration to take appropriate executive steps to maintain peace in Bengal and to secure the democratic rights, and the properties and assets of the mass of the people. (INN)
Right after the outcome of the Lok Sabha election was known, these forces of anarchism and disorder started a violence-laden campaign of blood-letting of the CPI (M) and the Left Front workers, all over Bengal. The Pradesh Congress forms an energetic actor in some district in this completely condemnable exercise against the masses. The LF has called upon peace-loving denizens to come out with strong protests against the killings, the arson, the molestation, and the pillage.
Forgetting, in a gesture filled with inhumanity, the terrible cyclonic storm and lashing rain that affected the coastal districts of Bengal in particular, often making inland inroads, the Bengal opposition stood as one in their self-proclaimed ‘punishment’ mode of the people, and of the CPI (M) which has remained as ever in the van of the people’s movement for their hard-earned, hard-fought democratic rights.
Biman noted that it was the belief of the LF that in the manner and intensity that mark the attack on the democratic masses, the CPI (M), and the LF constituents, ‘we are reminded of the semi-fascist terror of the 1970s.’ The Left Front has been in office for the past 32+ years. There has never been a single incident where the people who have not voted for the LF have been subjected to heinous attacks including killing, arson, looting, and plundering.
The rights and the dignity of the opposition and of their supporters are held sacrosanct in Bengal under the governance of the LF. Nevertheless, pointed out the senior CPI (M) leader, the past decade witnessed an ill-gotten attempt by the Trinamul Congress and its lackeys to destroy the democratic fabric.
Between 1970 and 1977, harking back along the path of history, Biman felt that it needs recalling, 1200 CPI (M) workers including the state committee member Jiban Maity, along with the senior Forward Bloc leader Hemanta Basu were killed, and killed brutally. 20 thousand families of CPI (M) workers and supporters had to flee from their residences, indeed from the localities of their livelihoods as well, for agonisingly, frighteningly long periods of time.
The historic election of 1977 witnessed the defeat and débâcle and in a comprehensive manner, of the authoritarian, anti-people forces. On the day the final outcome of the Assembly election was known, the late lamented Bengal CPI (M) secretary, comrade Promode Dasgupta, and the much-respected Communist leader, Jyoti Basu issued appeals repeatedly to the people that they should never-ever be vengeful on the criminals of 1970-1977. As a consequence, no violence was seen in the post-polls days, weeks, months, and years.
The contrary has been allowed by the worthies of the opposition to happen this time around. The opposition leadership would mutter the word ‘peace,’ but they, including central ministers, would provoke their followers by declaring frequently that nobody would be allowed to remain Bengal to hold aloft the Red Flag. If this was not provocation, said Biman, ‘we do not what is.’
An ugly attempt is essayed to pass of as ‘popular rage,’ the carefully, coolly, planned assaults on the people. Assassinations are orchestrated, and it is unfortunate, most unfortunate indeed, Biman declared, that a section of the media, a pillar of democracy, was found gleeful in shamelessly supporting the attacks and the killings and the arson and the brigandage.
Leave apart the history of the world down the years the media here would not even stop to recall the experience they had themselves suffered from in Bengal itself. The section of the media that was over-joyous at the destruction of democracy in 1972 subsequently had to undergo the humiliating experience of having to spend some ‘prime time’ behind bars. The LF appealed to the forces that were ‘encouraged’ at the de novo rise of neo-fascism in the state to desist from supporting these dark forces for that would ultimately harm everyone in Bengal.
The Left will mend their ways whenever found necessary as always, but, declared Biman, ‘we shall never bow low before aggression.’ ‘We,’ continued the LF chairman, ‘may suffer from being killed brutally, but we shall always remain with the people, fighting for their democratic rights.’
The neo-fascist attacks might have started as a drive against the Communists and the Left movement, but it would inevitably spread its fangs and talons over the general democratic rights of the people, over their lives and livelihoods, over their honour and dignity, and finally over their social security.
The Left Front also called upon the state administration to take appropriate executive steps to maintain peace in Bengal and to secure the democratic rights, and the properties and assets of the mass of the people. (INN)
