Birbhum violence: Mukul Roy calls journalist 'small fry'

Even as the opposition upped the ante over the violence-hit Makhra village in West Bengal's Birbhum, the ruling Trinamool Congress seemingly on the defensive, hit out at the media calling a journalist "small fry".

Political clashes allegedly between the Trinamool and the BJP activists Monday had left three people dead and several injured in the village.

With the administration clamping prohibitory orders and keeping the village out of bounds, opposition parties have been attacking the Trinamool and questioning its silence over the issue.

Asked to react on the issue, the Trinamool national general secretary lost his cool and lashed out at a journalist saying that he was "too small a fry to ask such a question".

"Your bosses in Kolkata are in touch with me on the issue. You are too small a fry to ask this question," Roy told a local television journalist at Birbhum Friday.

The opposition Saturday lashed out at Roy for his comments.

"The comments reflect the lack of sense of democratic values not only of Roy but the entire ruling party," said Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) MP Mohammad Salim.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Samik Bhattachaya taking a dig at Roy said: "Democratic norms or sensibilities should not be expected from a leader who belongs to a party called the Trinamool which is known for stifling democratic voices."

Congress leader Abdul Mannan said Roy's comments were indicative of the party's "discomfort on the issue".

With its delegations not being allowed to visit the Makhra village, the BJP and the Left Front have sought the intervention of Governor K.N. Tripathi in the matter while the Congress has threatened mass movement if the prohibitory orders are not revoked.