Buddhadeb warns CPI (M) against digging up dirt on Mamata Banerjee
Politics yes, but no dirty politics. Displaying a trait that is rare among today’s politicians, West Bengal chief minister and CPI (M) leader Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee strongly opposed on Wednesday a reported move by some leaders of his party to dig up a 17-year-old police case to defame opposition Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee in the run-up to the West Bengal assembly polls.
“I want to categorically state that there is no question of irritating, harassing or arresting Mamata Banerjee in any past police case before the elections,” he said.
Bhattacharjee was reacting to reports in a section of the media on Tuesday that CPI (M) was planning to ask the election commission to ensure execution of all non-bailable warrants, including those issued in connection with violence in 1994, issued against Banerjee.
Sportsmanship apart, there is another reason for Bhattacharjee to rein in his party men. He is well aware that if CPI (M) decides to hurt Banerjee using old police cases, Trinamool could retaliate by highlighting the Sainbari (Bardhaman district) case of 1970 in which several people inclined towards Congress were murdered allegedly by members of the Left party.
Trinamool and alliance partner Congress had started a campaign a year ago to reopen the case in which a youth, among others, was brutally done to death in the presence of his family allegedly by CPM leaders. Incumbent West Bengal industry minister Nirupam Sen was allegedly witness to the killing.
Meanwhile, Bhattacharjee refused reaction to the arrest of Amitabha Kejriwal, realtor and son-in-law of former CPI (M) Rajya Sabha member Sarala Maheswari, for allegedly forging a land deed. “I can’t say, I have no knowledge,” he told reporters before hurriedly trying to wrap up a press conference.
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