Cong, CPI(M) in war of words: Buddha slams PC

While Trinamool Congress and CPI(M) cadres are engaged in a fierce turf war in rural Bengal, leaders of their respective parties are embroiled in a battle of semantics.

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram’s letter to West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has accused the CPI(M) of harbouring armed cadres in camps for “intimidating and some times attacking members and sympathisers of opposition parties.”

Chidambaram use of the term ‘Harmad Vahini’ to describe armed CPI(M) cadres has sparked off the recent controversy. Taking exception to it, Bhattacharjee sent an angry reply back to Delhi. The content of the letter was released today.

In his reply to Chidambaram, Bhattacharjee said: “I strongly object to your using “Harmad” to describe CPI(M) party workers without knowing the actual meaning of this nasty word coined by Trinamool Congress leaders.” In response, Mamata Banerjee has said that ‘Harmad’ could be used to depict armed dacoits, pirates and marauders and the CPI(M) cadres fit the bill.

The term is a Bengali derivative of the English word ‘armada’. In the seventeenth century, Portuguese pirates, who often attacked Bengal’s coastal villages to loot, pillage and take the locals as prisoners and sell them in European markets, were referred to as‘Harmad’. The word was coined by the villagers after the Spanish word ‘armada’.

Of late, Banerjee and her party colleagues started using the word to depict armed CPI(M) cadres. When Chidambaram used the same language in his letter – “I would urge you strongly to kindly ensure that all armed cadres, either under the name of Harmad Vahini …are immediately disarmed..” – it was clear that the home minister had thought that CPI(M) has raised an armed wing called Harmad Vahini.

Besides, the chief minister expressed his displeasure over the charges leveled against his government by the Union home ministry. In his letter, Bhattacharjee said his government had achieved some success in combating the naxalite threat, but claimed that Trinamool Congress was hand in gloves with the rebels. “Trinamool Congress which was earlier maintaining secret contacts with Naxalite leaders and outfits are now openly organising meetings with them.”

Bhattacharjee also contested the number of casualties mentioned by Chidambaram for both the ruling and opposition parties in the last one year.

Chidambaram had said: “According to our figures, up to December 15, 2010, TMC cadres who have been killed and injured number 96 and 1,237 respectively. Likewise, CPI (M) cadres killed and injured are 65 and 773 respectively.”

Bhattacharjee in response said: “I would like to correct your figures. 32 Trinamool Congress supporters have been killed and 601 have suffered injuries, while CPI(M) has lost 69 of their cadres and another 723 have been injured.”

However, the chief minister has agreed with the union home minister on one point, that the figures provide a very bad picture of the law and order situation in the state. “I, however, agree that it is not a happy situation and I am trying my best to stop these senseless killings,” he said.

Reacting to Bhattacharjee’s response, Banerjee said that her party had nothing to do with the rebels and reiterated that the Naxalites are just another face of the CPI(M). She alleged that the CPI(M) cadres are behind the acts of violence in the state.