Left not to tolerate Trinamool terror: Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee

Accusing the TMC-led ruling government of creating terror by perpetrating "revenge attacks" on the Left workers, former state chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Thursday called for reorganising the Left party bases "to accept such challenges".

"We have to accept the challenge and restrengthen our organisations with a renewed vigour and we will never surrender under any circumstances," Bhattacharjee said here at a rally of Left student and youth organisations.

"We have to resist all armed attacks on left students, youth and workers in an organised way across the state and it is time that you stand against armed and revenge attacks on left workers," the CPI(M) Politburo member said.

In a hard-hitting speech, he said "Everyone knows how this state government has been functioning. It is a matter of serious concern that no annual budget was placed in the state Assembly and no one knows how the financial provisions will be made to keep the system going."

Bhattacharjee alleged that Trinamool Congress workers were imposing fines on left activists, threatening them to pay or leave their area in East and West Midnapore, Hooghly and Burdwan districts, in particular.

He said that ever since the transition of power in the state, there had been series of attacks on the houses of left workers. "Many have been injured and some even killed. Left party offices were damaged, and occupied in an environment of terror all over the state," he added.

The former chief minister criticised the way Darjeeling and Jangalmahal issues were sought to be resolved by the new state government, saying "it is amazing that the youth in Jangalmahal have been assured of jobs in police in a bid to resolve the Maoist problems". "I wonder how this government has been promising jobs to the youth when there is no provision," Bhattacharjee said, adding that the left parties would have to convince the masses "about the false assurances of the Trinamool government".

The CPI(M) leader said that the political situation in the state would change soon and the Left parties would have to reassert themselves to win over confidence of the masses. Biman Bose, and politburo member and state CPI(M) secretary, said "We have accepted defeat in the elections but we have promised to play role of a responsible opposition".

He alleged that systematic attempts were being made under the new dispensation to take away land given to landless farmers during the 34-year Left Front regime.

Bose claimed that 37 left workers were killed in the post-election period in the state. "Nine comrades were forced to commit suicide due to threats to their life," he said.

Criticising Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for seeking to undermine left parties, he said "If there is no violence, how so many party workers have lost their lives".