Trinamool intimidating opposition in Bengal: CPI-M

Lashing out the ruling Trinamool Congress, the state CPI-M on Friday accused it of indulging in a "systematic campaign of threat and intimidation" towards opposition political workers in West Bengal.

Communist Party of India-Marxist state Secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra said 180 Left workers and leaders have been killed since the Trinamool came to power in the state in 2011.

Mishra said communist cadres and supporters were attacked in areas where the Trinamool did not do well in the 2016 assembly polls.

Again, elected representatives of the opposition parties in the assembly, municipalities and panchayat bodies were becoming victims of "threats and intimidation" by the Trinamool, which is trying to coerce them into joining its fold, the CPI-M leader said.

"The Trinamool is carrying out this systematic campaign of threat and intimidation targeting opposition parties," Mishra told mediapersons here.

He alleged that opposition legislators are deprived of funds under the MLA Local Area Development scheme.

"False cases are being filed against opposition's public representatives, particularly those from our party," he said.

Mishra said the degree of attack and planning that has gone into it was unprecedented in the country.

"A savage and premeditated attack on democracy is taking place in Bengal. The democratic rights of the people are being snatched," he said.

--IANS

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