KPP withdraws bandh, Left criticises govt for harassing people

The Kamtapur People's Party (KPP) today withdrew its proposed January 20 bandh and said the day will be observed as 'Undemocratic anti-terrorism day' in the region.
"We condemn the arrest of our cadres who are not involved in any subversive activities. We have withdrawn our proposed January 20 bandh, but will observe the day as 'Undemocratic anti-terrorism day' demanding the release of our cadres," said KPP state committee president Atul Roy after submitting a memorandum to the district magistrate through SDO, Siliguri.
The party leadership today submitted memorandums to the district magistrates of six North Bengal districts demanding immediate halt of harassment of its leaders following the blast in Jalpaiguri district killing six people.

Meanwhile, talking to reporters on the sidelines of a party programme, Left Front chairman Biman Bose criticised the Trinamool Congress-led state government for its actions against "innocent people in the name of KPP and KLO".
"The state government should combat the situation politically and not by harassing innocent people. The erstwhile Left Front government had combated separatist elements like the KLO and the Maoists, but the present government didn't do it. Rather, the Trinamool had warmed up with the Maoists, KLO and KPP in their aim in ousting the Left," Bose said.
"Now, they have forgotten their earlier bonhomie and are resorting to undemocratic means to counter separatism. This TMC government has no policy, does not believe in democracy and has no well-defined programme," he added.