The Trinamool Congress Government has been running the State
Government in West Bengal since May 2011. At the very outset, the Chief
Minister’s strange instruction to the main opposition parties was to paste
leucoplast on the mouth to keep mum for the next 10 years. However, during the
months followed, what has been aptly revealed is that the undemocratic highhandedness of the present
ruling regime is not targeted only to the political Opposition, but also
directed to other sections of the society in the state. None is spared-- from
talented girl students of Presidency University to innocent farmers of
Junglemahal, not even school teachers, or college/ university professors, even
celebrated artists who once took
pro-‘Paribortan’ stand –-- are experiencing the same humiliation in one or
another pretext. ‘If you are not with me you are against me’ – the ruling party
in West Bengal seems to say.
The State of West Bengal is now a land of
government-sponsored carnivals. But such jamborees are failing to suppress the
sound of weeping of hungry workers of closed North Bengal tea gardens,
increasing problems of hard-pressed transport workers or distress of hapless families of the farmers
committing suicide. When asked about the priority of the TMC
government the blunt response from the
top is typically insensitive : ‘If we won’t organise festivals should we
perform funeral rites”.
The state is now leading the country as per the record of
crime against women. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data reveals that the state also tops the list of increasing rate of
criminal cases in the whole country. Even the judge of the High Court has said
that the state is burning. The Government is not paying any heed to the
recommendations of statutory bodies like the State Election Commission or the
State Human Rights Commission.
Anarchy in Education
What is happening in the field of education in West Bengal
is nothing but an ‘improvised’ version of the semi-fascist
terror tactics of the days during the 1970’s. The unfortunate practice of mass-copying in public
examinations has once relapsed. The State Government has already imposed
an ordinance was to dismantle the positive developments achieved in
higher education during the days of the Left Front government. Now even the
Vice- Chancellors in a number of State
Universities were either removed or forced to resign by the TMC
government in their own autocratic fashion. The pre-poll cry for
de-politicization in education has turned truly into de-democratization drive.
The experience of the one-year of the TMC-led Government has shown
that the entire education system is under tremendous threat. On the one hand we
have TMC miscreants in the campus beating up college professors and principals
and student activists of opposition organizations, on the other hand we have
the entire Government machinery acting in unison the destroy the democratic
education system in the state. In the name of establishing democracy and doing
away with party-rule, what the Mamata Banerjee Government has done is to try
and capture the education sector by brazen nepotism and hooliganism at any
cost.
The democratically elected administrative bodies of the
Universities have been dismissed by the ordinance. Even the neutrality of the
Government-nominated expert committee members in the fields of higher education
has been contested by different stake holders. The TMC activists took part in
poll campaigns have been picked up as ‘experts’. The
elected Chairmen of District Primary Education Councils were compelled to
resign to give way for the known TMC dadas. Known pro-TMC faces are
posted to run bodies like West Bengal Council for Primary Education, West
Bengal Board of Secondary Education, West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary
Education and School Service Commission. The ruling party-sponsored musclemen
are nominated by the state government to head the College Governing Bodies.
Educational institutions are prime
targets of TMC-sponsored hooligans. Professors, teachers, students,
non-teaching members of the staff are openly manhandled. The student
organization of the present ruling party is desperate to put pressure on the
teachers in schools and colleges to ensure promotion of students unable to qualify
in the final examinations. A state of total misrule is prevailing. The CM
announced that approval will be given to ten thousand new madrasahs. But in
reality the Government has cancelled license of 40 running madrasahs. The scope
in technical and vocational education
has also shrunk. The Government has cancelled license of more than 40
vocational training institutes.
Security of women disappearing
The gang rape and killing of a college student in Kamduni
village, barely 20 kilometres from Kolkata, is already known across the
country. But instead of taking any substantive step against the culprits, the State Government is bent upon
harassing the protesters. Even the
ministers are hurling on filthy languages against the innocent villagers who
are ready to bow down to the pressures from the ruling party leaders. In the
Park Street rape case, in which Chief Minister had infamously declared the
accusation to be “concocted”, the main accused is still at large, more than a
year-and-a-half after the crime. The victim is yet to get any justice,
but the lady police officer concerned in charge of investigation
initially had to leave office soon after receiving a “routine” transfer order.
The raped woman of Katwa had to give evidence that her husband had passed away
11 years ago.
A TMC MLA, himself a silver screen star passed ugly remarks
about a girl molested in Barasat, the
district headquarters in South 24 Parganas. The police officers in Jhargram
asked about the character of the lady who wanted to lodge a complaint of
molestation. In Kanaidighi village of Kanthi, Purba Medinipur district, a woman
attempted suicide by consuming poison after she molested in front of her
daughter. But no step was taken to in her favour. A national champion deaf and
dumb athlete was raped in Hemtabad,
in North Dinajpur district. The main
accused here also is a TMC activist.
The leaders of Left women organizations in the state sought
appointment of Home Secretary of the state government and the DG of the State
Police force four times. But they are not finding any time to meet the women
organizations. The state administration though led by the woman CM is reluctant
to receive any deputation even to discuss issues related to incidents of gang
rape.
The state administration is absolutely incompetent. In terms
of population, the state of West Bengal
accounts for 7.5% of India’s population. But the 12.7% of total incidents of
atrocities against women took place in
West Bengal. The data reveals that the police do not receive complaint or fail
to file chargesheets in most of the cases. Recently, it is found that in 50
such cases, the police has deliberately
conducted wrong investigations to ensure dismissal of the cases in courts. The
latest NCRB record reveals that the number of cases of atrocities against women
in West Bengal is more than any other state in the country. The Government is not even sending proper reports of such cases, though
the rate of punishment is much low in comparison with other states. But to the West Bengal CM, the real cases of atrocities
against women are ‘fake’ or ‘cooked up’ stories! The Ministers of the State
Government are also continuing to pass
filthy remarks targeting the victims. This only is emboldening the
criminals and anti-social elements.
Don’t ask questions …
Shiladitya Chowdhury, a farmer from Belpahari, Paschim
Medinipur district, was arrested for asking a simple question about the rising
price of fertilizers in a meeting of the Chief Minister. Readily, the angry
boss of the state administration identified
Shiladitya as a ‘Maoist’ and
ordered the police force from the stage to arrest the poor fellow. Ms. Tania
Bharadwaj, a teen age student, was also termed as a ‘Maoist’ by the Chief
Minister in a TV talk show. Prof. Ambikesh Mahapatra of Jadavpur University,
was held by the police only for forwarding
an e-mail in good humour.
The terror is so evident
Jiten
Nandi, member of Garbeta Zonal Committee of CPI (M) was brutally murdered
within 24 hours after the declaration of the results of the last Assembly
election. In only eight days, during the period between declaration of election
results and the swearing-in ceremony of the new cabinet (13th – 20th May,
2011), eight CPI (M) workers were brutally killed by the TMC hoodlums. The CM
told in the brigade rally that one would need to use a binocular to find out
incidents of violence. But. Pradip Tah,
former CPI (M) MLA and Kamal Gayen, veteran cultural activist were brutally
mudered in Bardhaman in open day light by the armed goons of the ruling party.
The persons accused in the murder case are now out of jail. Credit goes to the
police! Dilip Sarkar, veteran CPI (M) leader and former MLA, was killed by
TMC-sponsored goons in Barnpur before the Panchayat polls. But no one is
arrested. In the vast areas of the state the opposition parties are not allowed
to hold public meetings or rallies. TMC-backed
goons are extorting money from common people. Unable to pay hefty amount
claimed by the local TMC hooligans, many people have committed suicide in fear
of facing the consequences. During the last two and a half years 140 workers of the
parties belonging to the Left Front were murdered. Among them 52 persons
belonged to the Minority Communities, 9 of them belonged to Scheduled Castes or
Scheduled Tribes, and 3 of them are women. In total,7387 people were injured in
the incidents of attacks by the TMC hooligans. More than 100 women were
molested to take political revenge by the ruling party activists. During the
period, a total of 700 women were raped. Around 2000 offices of different Left
political parties/ mass organizations and trade unions were ransacked and
captured. A total of 44937 Left Front activists were ousted from their
residences. More than 8000 Left activists, leaders and supporters were
implicated in false and fabricated cases.
Cases
of Police firing, Lathi charges and false cases
The
trigger- happy state police even opened fire on unarmed people during
agitations, even on people assembled in social gatherings. Five people
including two women and a student of class five died in such cases. Six
such incidents happened during the period. But in no case the Chief Minister criticized such police action.
This is only legitimizing the police atrocities. Two women and a student of class five died
in police firing at Magrahat. The police
was given clean chit from the highest authority. The Chief Minister only
defended the police force after an innocent woman was killed in police
firing at Bogula in Nadia district.
Police opened fire on displaced poor tribal people in Gajitala and Dewanghri of
Haroa in South 24 Parganas. The police opened fire on farmers and patta holders
without any provocation. Four farmers were injured and bleeding but they were
not allowed to transfer to hospitals in time. The armed TMC hoodlums joined the
police in attacking the poor farmers.
One person was killed in Asansol, Bardhaman in police firing when they could
not control a scuffle during the immersion of idols.
Bahurupi
village of Bishoepur in Siuri witnessed police atrocity at its peak as they
kicked at the abdomen of a three year old girl child. The police manhandeled
women in Nasik village of Bhatar in Bardhaman. The men in uniform kicked at the
abdomen of a pregnant woman. The police opened fire and charged tear gas shells
indiscriminately on the villagers during
their operation to bring back a digging
machine of a private company at Loba village in Dubrajpur, Birbhum. The Chief
Minister appreciated the police action. The CM also openly defended the police
firing at Houlia of Tehatta in Nadia killing
an innocent person.
Student
leader dies in police custody
The Left
student and youth organizations called for civil disobedience to protest the
ban on students’ union elections in the state. Sudipta Gupta (23), leader of
the SFI, also participated in the protest programme. The police started beating
the agitators who were inside the bus on
their way to the Presidency Jail.
Sudipta was pushed out. He was grievously injured but
was not spared by the police. Sudipta suffered a serious head injury. In fact
he was mercilessly beaten. His head and
face were fractured severely. Sudipta’s comrades rescued
him and brought him to the SSKM hospital. He was not even provided with proper
treatment. Sudipta succumbed to injuries. The Chief Minister termed the
incident as a “petty matter”. The Left Front demanded a judicial enquiry of the
custodial death of Sudipto Gupta. But, the
TMC Government, as usual, is interested in nothing but hoodwinking the people.
1500
Party offices vandalized within 24 hours by TMC goons
West Bengal Finance Minister
Amit Mitra was heckled on 9 April 2013 by the protesters after giving
provocation in New Delhi. The people who
were gathered to register their protest against the custodial death of Sudipto
Gupta. The top leaders of Left Front condemned the heckling of a minister. But the
TMC hooligans in West Bengal under the instruction of their party bosses made
it a point and started violent attacks on the workers of the CPI (M) and other
Left parties.
On 9th and 10th
April, 2013, more than 1500 offices of CPI (M) and its mass organizations were
vandalized. Even offices of other Left parties were also attacked. In some
places even Congress party offices were not also spared. Attacks were unleashed
against CPI (M) leaders, several of them were ousted from home. The police as
usual were busy in protecting the hooligans. Thus several parts of the state
were made “TMC-only Zones” before the ensuing Panchayat polls.
Reign of
terror in Panchayat elections and Municipal polls
The Left Front was not allowed
to file nominations in more than 6000 seats in the last Panchayat elections.
They were brutally attacked almost everywhere during the time of nomination
paper filing. Even after that the LF candidates were forced under gun points in
some cases to withdraw nomination
papers; family members of the proposed opposition candidates were abducted,
beaten brutally. There was no scope to seek security for the Opposition
candidates. More than 3000 booths were captured in the five phases of the
Panchayat elections. People could not cast their votes freely. The police did
nothing to save 25 Left Front activists, including candidates, who were
murdered during the Panchayat elections by the TMC goons. Even the election
results were manipulated openly in counting stations. The State personnel were
just silent spectators. The looting of votes was so severe that the State
Election Commission administration has not been able to tally the record of
votes till date. This is unprecedented in the history of panchayet elections in
the state. The reign of terror continued even after the declaration of results.
The TMC goons further threatened and unleashed attack on the elected members of
the opposition even inside the government offices during the time of formation
of boards. CPI (M) leader Jahangir Alam, who was elected President or Sabhapati
of a Panchayat Samiti at Hasnabad in North 24-Parganas, was killed by the TMC
miscreants to take control of the board.
Hasmat Sheikh, CPI (M) leader
and newly elected Panchayat Samiti member in Farakka of Murshidabad district, was also brutally
killed by the TMC goons. Ranjit Mistri , CPI (M) leader and the newly winning
candidate of Narayanpur-I Gram Panchayat in Karimpur-II Block under Nadia
district was also murdered to take control of the Gram Panchayat. The Kolkata
High Court issued an order to the BDO of Haringhata, Nadia to explain the
situation that resulted in restricting forcibly the elected members to form the
board freely.
Such cases of hooliganism were
repeated in the Municipal polls in Bardhaman, Chakdaha, Panihati and other
places.
Democracy
is at stake even in Assembly
The TMC Government is not ready
to give due importance to the State
Assembly. Previously, when the Left
Front government was at the helm, the State Assembly was in session for not
less than 60 days in a year on an average. Now it has come down to 24-25 days
per year. One can hardly recall the absence of the Chief Minister during the
question –answer session during the time of the
Left Front government. But the present Chief Minister was present only
once during question –answer session.
She has given reply to only one question in the assembly during the last two
and a half years.
The voice of the opposition is
curbed on regular basis. The Left Front MLAs wanted to move an adjourning
motion demanding protection for the investors of Saradha chit fund. But it was
shocking to find that the Ministers and some of the TMC MLAs retaliated
violently. A woman member of CPI(M) and former Minister Deblina Hembram was
beaten up mercilessly. Gouranga Chatterjee, CPI (M) MLA, received head injury.
What is happening in West Bengal is once again revealed from the fact that a
judge in Alipore court had been “forced”
recently by a TMC leader to change the judgment.
The State Government is
forcibly enacting laws to centralize power. The democratic rights of the people
guaranteed during the Left Front rule are curtailed undemocratically by the
present government. This TMC-led Government is introducing laws only for
privileged sections of the society. They are snatching power of the common
people only to concentrate powers in the hands of the Ministers and bureaucrats.
Chit fund
scam
The name of the Chief Minister
and the TMC supremo
is now linked with the Saradha chit fund scam which is the biggest such scam in
independent India. The money invested by not less than one crore people is now
vanished. The chit fund company has evidently grown steadily under the direct
patronage of the TMC leaders. Even today the State Government has not attached
the property of the chit fund companies. The State Government, instead, are trying to befool the people of the
state in the name of so-called enquiries. The Chief Minister has no answer why
she is against a CBI probe of the scam under the supervision of the Supreme
Court. Why the State Government is not attaching the Saradah properties to pay
back investors? They have no answer.
Parade of farmers’
suicide
During last two and a half years of TMC rule, 90 farmers and agricultural laborers have committed
suicide facing the unbearable burden of loans. This quite new in West Bengal, never
happened during 34 years of Left Front government. The Left
Front Government used to collect paddy through cooperatives like BENFED, CONFED
and self- help groups. But the new state Government is not following the same
method. The farmers are now compelled to sale their crops to the middlemen at a
price much lower than the cost of production. Agricultural labourers are also under crisis now. The people in the state
are suffering from price hike of essential items including foods. The
TMC-led Government is doing nothing.
They are busy only with unleashing state-sponsored terror tactics to suppress
popular demands and putting up big advertisements with tall claims and false
statistics by wasting a huge public fund.
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