CPM rewrites Surjeet line to save face on Mamata

Last Friday, Banerjee threatened to sue, saying that the reference to the ‘‘firebrand lady of Bengal’’ could have only been to her. Sadly for Surjeet, even the CPI(M) leadership in West Bengal did not back him on his claim.

But now this line in the article has been changed to read: ‘‘…some political bigwigs, including the so-called firebrand lady of Bengal, did not ask their followers to make efforts to maintain peace in the state.’’

The piece, even as it stands now, is unlikely to cut any ice with Banerjee. She said today that she would not reply to any questions on the matter, and that her legal team led by Ajit Panja would do all the answering.

Panja later told The Indian Express that ‘‘the line has been dishonestly changed, and is an act of cowardice.’’

Panja said that the line, which accused Banerjee and other politicians, was initially available on the Internet version of the CPI(M) organ. He said that a legal notice had been served on Surjeet on August 18.

Panja said that the legal notices—they have also gone to the editor, printer and publisher of People’s Democracy after the print version became available—demand an unconditional apology, immediate withdrawal of the article and the reference to Banerjee, and damages and compensation of Rs 50 crore as special damages and another Rs 50 crore as general damages.

For the record, People’s Democracy was available after printing at the CPI(M) headquarters in New Delhi only today, well behind schedule. Earlier inquiries about the delay had only fetched responses about some problems at the printing press.