Bouquet for Abdur Rezzak Mollah, brickbats for Arabul Islam

Governor M K Narayanan today condemned the alleged attack on veteran CPM MLA Abdur Rezzak Mollah by Trinamool Congress cadres in Kantatala in South 24 Parganas.

"We do not subscribe to any attack on anyone, whether the person is a political leader or anybody else," he told reporters on the sidelines of the valedictory session of Indian Science Congress here.

Possibly taking a cue from the governor's statement, commerce and industry minister and Trinamool leader Partha Chatterjee visited Mollah in hospital this evening with a flower bouquet. When contacted over the phone, he said, "Why should I make a statement?"

Chatterjee reportedly went to Mollah's room and, after handing him the bouquet, asked why had he gone to a Trinamool meeting that day. Another senior CPM leader present in the room explained that Mollah went to Kantatala after the CPM party office there was razed. Sources revealed that Mollah could only say, "Control Arabul and his associates."

Trinamool supporters allegedly led by former Trinamool MLA Arabul Islam, who was holding a party rally at that time, stopped Mollah's car and ransacked it yesterday. When Mollah came out of the car, the cadres beat him up. The assault continued till policemen arrived.

Trinamool MP Kabir Suman also visited Mollah this morning. He condemned the alleged attack by Arabul and said it was a political blunder.

"This is not only uncalled for but will also give the CPM an edge politically. Even if we consider the CPM as our enemies, through this action we have handed over some aces in their hands," Suman said.

The dissident Trinamool leader also criticised the comments made by TMC ministers Jyotipriya Mullick and Firhad Hakim. "I am shocked at what Jyotipriya said. He had asked people to indulge in fistfights. He must know that it is not the common man but his party supporters who would do so," Suman said.

As for Firhad's comments that Mollah was enacting a drama and that had he been attacked by 4,000 supporters, he would not have reached the hospital, Suman said, "Firhad has to prove his heroism and it is through these comments that he can do so. He has done nothing else in the party other than being a yes man."

Mollah putting on an act: Arabul

Kolkata: Trinamool's Arabul Islam on Monday held a public meeting at Ghatakpukur Bazar in Bhangor to condemn Abdur Rezzak Mollah's actions. "Mollah had intruded into the Trinamool meeting in his 'zamindari' style and tried to stop it midway. Trinamool supporters protested against it and a scuffle followed. He has probably forgotten that they are not in the ruling party now. He is playing it up and putting up an act that he was seriously injured," Arabul said. Present at the meet, among other Trinamool leaders, was TMC zilla president Shakti Mondal.

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