Arrest Trinamool leader inciting violence: Left Front

Left Front chairman Biman Bose Friday demanded the arrest of Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mandal who had exhorted party workers to hurl bombs at police and damage houses of independent candidates in the West Bengal panchayat polls.

"Whatever he has said, can this be a part of the democratic process? No action has been taken against him till now. He should be arrested without any delay," Bose said while addressing the media here.

"They (Trinamool ministers) have taken the oath in the name of the constitution, but why aren't they taking any action as per the constitution?" he asked.

Bose, who is also state secretary of the Communist Party of India-Marxist, referred to the ransacking of the legislative assembly by then opposition Trinamool members after their chief Mamata Banerjee was prevented from going to Hooghly district's Singur to address a public meeting in late 2006.

Banerjee returned to Kolkata, and headed to the assembly, and watched - reportedly with the Indian constitution in her hand - as her party lawmakers went on rampage damaging furniture.

"They had ransacked the assembly while their leader sat through with a copy of the Indian constitution. May be, that is the reason, they are not saying anything against Anubrata," Bose added.

Addressing a rally Wednesday, Trinamool's Birbhum district president Anubrata Mandal said: "If independent candidates give threats, then damage and set fire to their houses."

Asking the people not to vote for independent candidates, many of whom are believed to be dissident Trinamool workers, Mandal said: "If the administration thinks of supporting the independents, then you hurl bombs at the police and the administration. I am telling you."

However, facing widespread criticism, Mandal backtracked Thursday claiming it was a "slip of tongue".

Bose slammed the Trinamool regime for "destroying the democratic process". "Can this go on?" he asked.