Team for Bengal too

NEW DELHI, June 17: Bowing to the wishes of its ally Mamata Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress, the Centre today decided to send a fact-finding team to West Bengal. Headed by an Additional Secretary in the Home Ministry, P D Shenoy, the three-member team will quot;assess the law and order situation in the Statequot; and focus on the quot;alleged atrocities being committed on women and members of the weaker sections.quot;

The team, according to a Ministry spokesperson, would leave for Calcutta late tonight. It is expected to come up with its report in a couple of days. Incidentally, a five-member team of BJP MPs, led by Shanta Kumar, had visited the state a few days ago and alleged human rights violations in the state but had stopped short of asking for President8217;s Rule.

Reactions of the major Opposition parties to the Government8217;s latest move are still awaited, but the Left parties here have been quick to express their anger. That teams are being sent to non-BJP states, said the Left, shows a deep-rooted conspiracy. SaidCPI general secretary D Raja: quot;This is an assault on the powers of the State Government and is contrary to the spirit of federalism,quot; he held.

For Mamata, however, rushing a team to West Bengal has been a victory of sorts.