Left parties condemn "brutal police action" on LF activists

The Communist parties condemned the "brutal police action" on Left-Front activists in Kolkata during today's demonstrations of the LF agrarian front supporters and said people of the state will give a "befitting reply by making their September 2 general strike a "huge" success.
CPI(M) claimed around 200 demonstrators including women protesters and its senior state unit leaders like Biman Basu, MP Ritabrata Banerjee and others were hurt during the "unprovoked and brutal" lathicharge by police.
"The politburo strongly condemns Mamata Banerjee Government for the unprovoked, brutal police lathi charges, use of tear gas water cannons against massive demonstration led by Left kisan organisations.

"People will no doubt give a befitting reply against this attitude by making general strike a complete success followed by further strengthening struggle for democratic rights and people's issues," CPI (M) said in a statement.
Claiming male cops targeted women protesters during the attack, the party said the police action shows utter contempt of TMC Government towards people's democratic rights.
"At a time when state kisans are in the grip of acute crisis caused by policies of Central and state governments, protesting kisans are sought to be silenced through repression," it claimed.

CPI national secretary D Raja echoed the views saying such repression will not work and the tactics were "unacceptable".

"Farmers across the country are in distress. Governments must be sensitive towards problems faced by farmers. Repression will not work, it is unacceptable," he condemned.
Meanwhile, farmers' wing of CPI (M), All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), too deplored the Government action saying a campaign will be undertaken across the country against such treatment.
A march held by the organizations in Kolkata today turned violent as police lathicharged the protestors who in turn engaged in brick-batting, wounding policemen and Left leaders.