Bengal going through suffocating times: A.K. Ganguly

Former Supreme Court judge A.K Ganguly Monday said West Bengal was going through a phase worse than the Emergency days, and that the prohibitory orders in violence-hit areas of Birbhum district were aimed at covering up the ruling Trinamool Congress's politics of terror.

Prohibitory orders were clamped in and around Makhra village following a political clash between Trinamool and BJP activists that led to the death of three people Oct 27.

After restraining leaders of the Left Front, BJP and the Congress from visiting the area, the prohibitory orders were revoked earlier in the day.

"Prohibitory orders are clamped in public interest, which I could not see here. Armed miscreants looted the villagers, lives were lost and the police did not want to take action so the order was clamped," Ganguly said during a TV interview.

"It is evident there was no reason to clamp the prohibitory orders. It was done just to prevent political leaders from visiting the terrified people and cover the political terror of the ruling party," he said.

"We are going through a suffocating period and the condition of West Bengal is worse than the Emergency days."

"People are falling victim to administrative excesses and people's democratic rights are being infringed upon," said Ganguly, who along with many eminent personalities floated the 'Save Democracy Forum'.

Ganguly, who resigned as chairperson of the state's human rights commission following a sustained movement by the Trinamool after he was accused of sexual harassment, said it was getting difficult to continue in the panel and called former top cop and commission member Naparajit Mukherjee "uncooperative".

"He has been uncooperative. While he would accept whatever I said in the office, later I would find in papers that he has refused them. So it was getting difficult. Had I continued, I think I would not have been able to work properly," said Ganguly, who had made several recommendations against the Mamata Banerjee government.

Mukherjee was subsequently made the interim chairperson of the commission which has been contested by human rights activists.

A known critic of Chief Minister Banerjee and her government, Ganguly asked people to join hands with his apolitical organisation and urged them to continue their fight against injustice.

"It's difficult to stand against injustice. I am speaking from experience, but I did not quit, so I would urge them to continue their fight and not feel helpless," said Ganguly, who was accused of sexually harassing an intern.