Centre’s silence on para-military forces irks West Bengal

Bhattacharya said, “We requested for the para-military forces as we wanted to have not only free and fair but also a smooth election.”

Meanwhile, Bhattacharaya announced that the state administration was alerted to gear up for the Bangla Bandh called by the Trinamool Congress and its ally BJP on 25th May.

Terming the move as `irresponsible,’ Bhattacharaya told press that “I am not sure if the Trinamool leader wanted to have any election at all?” He said any party which wanted a free and fairelection would not have taken this step which will only disrupt the election process. He dismissed Mamata Banerjee’s repeated protests against `CPM-sponsored atrocities on the Trinamool and the BJP workers’ as a political gimmick to hoodwink the common people.

Incidentally, Mamata Banerjee, who called the state-wide bandh yesterday, said as all other attempts to stop violence on the Trinamool and the BJP workers failed `she was forced to use this last option.’

The State BJP leaders, who also supported the bandh, expressed similar concerns about the `growing violence let loose by CPM cardres.’

The concern of the state government could be well understood with all the Opposition parties seeming to have joined voices on the issue of bandh. The Congress, which is desperately seeking to reintroduce itself as a political force since Lok Sabha election, has also extended its support to the bandh on moral grounds. This, what the state government fears, would go against their interest with the ruralelectorate.

Bhattacharya, who was candid enough to admit some cases of killings of Trinamool workers, `eight in total and 93 injured’, said: “We regret these incidents.”

But turning the heat on, he said in same vain: “We have suffered more, we have already lost 9 workers and over 130 injured.”

According to latest police reports, he disclosed, “Our investigations revealed that in most of the incidents of violence, both the Bharatiya Janata Party and Trinamool activists proved to be more aggressive and created law and order problem.”

Revealing the administration’s plans to ensure that the 12-hour bandh did not disrupt the process of poll preparations which will get finishing touches on 25th, he said the state would take all necessary measures to combat any challenge on the day.

Bhattacharya said that the administration would take disciplinary action against any absenting government employee who could not furnish proper reasons for not attending on his/her duty on the day.