CALCUTTA, MAY 4: Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee today urged West Bengal Governor A R Kidwai that unless the ``CPI(M)-sponsored violence is checked within seven days,'' her party would be forced to hold sit-in dharnas in front of Raj Bhavan.Speaking to newsmen after submitting a memorandum to the Governor here this afternoon, she said recent violence in Diamond Harbour in South 24-Paraganas and in Barasat in North 24-Paraganas on Monday, proved that ``the CPI(M) has started its violent poll campaign.''
She claimed that for the last one year her party lost over 160 workers in `the CPI(M)-sponsored violence.' She told newsmen that her party informed the Governor that her earlier pleas for checking the violence did not bear any fruit. Now her party would be forced to hold sit-in dharnas, if the violence is not stopped immediately.
Interestingly, the CPI(M) claimed that the recent violence, which left over five dead, four `CPI(M) activists' in South and one in North 24-Paraganas, was triggeredoff by the Trinamool Congress, Congress and the BJP.
Refuting the claims of the Trinamool Congress, senior CPI(M) leader and also the party's politburo member Anil Biswas, blamed the Trinamool Congress, Congress and the BJP for spreading violence in the state before the election.
Giving a warning to these parties, Biswas told media that the Left Front Government ``will not tolerate any attempt to vitiate political atmosphere in the state.
Mamata on reshuffle
CALCUTTA: Mamata Banerjee today justified the bureaucratic reshuffle effected by the caretaker BJP government at the Centre, saying ``if it's right with the Bihar and West Bengal Governments to carry out reshuffle, I don't see any wrong with the Centre. She was referring to the transfer of over 24 top police officers in the state last week.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.