NHRC’s visit to Midnapore unwanted — Bhattacharjee

“It was unfair on the part of the NHRC not to take the State Human Rights’ Commission (SHRC) into confidence in the matter,” he said.

Bhattacharjee claimed that West Bengal was one of the most peaceful states in the country and said there was no communal tension in his state and general law and order situation was one of the best compared to other states. This fact had been acknowledged by the NHRC, the Union Home Ministry and the National Crime Bureau, he asserted.

The Chief Minister said out of 446 police stations in West Bengal, some problems had been created by opposition parties only in seven police station area. The problem in these areas would be eased soon with the help of the common people and through dialogue with opposition parties.

Bhattacharjee said West Bengal was the first state to set up the SHRC and “we have very cordial relations with them. The state government had accepted almost 90 per cent of the recommendations of the SHRC”, he claimed.

Asked if he aprehended imposition of President’s Rule in his state, as demanded by the Trinamool Congress (TC) leader Mamata Banarjee, the Chief Minister said although they were threatening, “I do not think the Central Government would do that. It would be an admission of their political defeat,” he said

He said Article 356 of the Constitution had been used about 100 times in different states, but in 99 cases it had been invoked for “narrow political reasons”.

While stating that the growth of the BJP in the country was a “dangerous” thing, Bhattacharjee, however, said West Bengal had a different tradition. The people of West Bengal would never allow a communal party like the BJP to raise its head, he said adding any party joining hands with communal outfits would not be tolerated by the people.

Asked if he was worried by the popularity of Mamata Banerjee, the CPI (M) leader said, “I do not take her seriously. Rather Trinamool Congress was worried as to whether they would remain with the BJP or not.”

He said by alligning with the BJP, the TC, which claimed to represent the original Congress, was trying to combine Gandhi and Nathuram Godse. About Banerjee’s allegation about threat to her life, the Chief Minister said there was nothing new in it. She had been talking about it.

He said the decision of the VHP to go ahead with the construction of the Ram temple at Ayodhya would meet strong opposition from the people of West Bengal and would have a bearing on the results of the ensuing Assembly elections. RSS, BJP and VHP were tied together by a common communal agenda, he said.