Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee faced fierce attack from the Left Front legislators in the LF legislative meeting on Monday. Barely 10 minutes into the meeting, an embarrassed CM walked out as the legislators blamed the police and the administration for their failure to tackle violence across Bengal. RSP legislators did not attend the meeting.
According to sources, the legislators said the police are not taking any action against those who are killing Left Front supporters and damaging party offices. When the CM requested them to restrain from resorting to violence, the MLAs, especially those from East and West Midnapore districts, told him to ask the police to take prompt action. In these two districts, the CPM cadres have been forced to leave their villages in the face of public fury.
“Our people are being killed by the Opposition. Where are your police?” an MLA from Burdwan, Pradip Ta, reportedly asked the CM. Minister Susanta Ghosh and Nandagopal Bhattacharjya also joined the chorus with the MLAs. “Police are not listening to us... is it our government?” asked a legislator from East Midnapore.
“We have no security,” said Ta, when the CM said “after the Lok Sabha polls the situation has changed. We have to face the Opposition in the House with restraint. Do not forget that we will have to behave like the ruling party”.
Mohammed Mash, CPM chief whip, admitted that the Left MLAs raised questions on the police’s role in the meeting with the CM. “The MLAs expressed their concern about the police inaction,” he added.
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