SFI claims none of its activists involved in heckling incident

CPI(M)'s student wing SFI today claimed that none of its activists were involved in the heckling of West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra here and described the incident as "unfortunate".

SFI General Secretary Ritabrata Banerjee said that several organisations along with SFI were protesting in front of the Planning Commission office on Tuesday when the incident occurred.

"Unfortunately, an untoward incident took place involving the Finance Minister of West Bengal Amit Mishra. No SFI activist was involved in that incident. We strongly condemn and disapprove this incident," Banerjee told reporters.

He also blamed the West Bengal government and Trinamool Congress of using the incident to divert public attention from SFI activist Sudipto Gupta's death and the demand for a judicial probe into it by attacking offices and activists of Left parties in Bengal.

"Trinamool supporters have been on the rampage across the state and more than 1000 office of the Left parties and student organisations have been attacked, vandalised and set on fire. Left leaders and supporters are being attacked throughout the state," he alleged.

Banerjee also alleged that Trinamool Congress workers barged into the Presidency University yesterday and roughed up students and vandalised parts of the building including the historic Baker Laboratory.

"Using the Planning Commission incident as an excuse, the West Bengal government is undermining our legitimate demand, which we will never allow to happen. Our fight for an independent judicial probe into Sudipta's death will continue," added Banerjee.