CPI-M asks party leaders to stay away from personal attacks

Cracking the whip, the CPI-M today asked its leaders to refrain from personal attacks in the run-up to the Lok Sabha poll, after a senior leader Anisur Rehman's unsavoury remarks against Mamata Banerjee were roundly criticised by all sections of society.
Rehman had last Saturday kicked off a controversy by telling a rally in Birbhum district that "all ministers in West Bengal are lambs. They cannot even marry without her permission".
The CPI(M) state committee, which met yesterday, took a strong note of Rehman's derogatory remarks, asking all party leaders to restrain themselves and not indulge in personal attack against leaders of opposition parties in poll speeches.

Although Rehman did not publicly express regret for his comments, CPI(M) state secretary Biman Bose on Sunday tried to distance his party from the remarks by saying, "Our fight is against ideals and policies. We don't support any kind of personal attack or remark against anybody,".
Rehman had earlier too courted controversy when in December, 2012 he launched an obscene attack on Mamata Banerjee over her government's decision to provide Rs 20,000 as compensation to rape victims, wondering what would be her compensation if she faced such an assault.
In the meeting yesterday, the state leadership, aware of the tough situation the party is facing, stressed on grassroot level campaigning such as door-to-door campaign and street-corner meetings.

"We have to stress on intense campaigning and grassroot level campaigning such as door-to-door interactions and street-corner meetings in order to reach every household of the state," Bose told state committee members.