TMC communal policy, inept state behind lethal strike by Hindutva forces: CPI(M)

The CPI(M) today said the ruling Trinamool Congress's "policy of appeasing communal forces" and an inept state administration had led to a "lethal" strike by Hindutva forces in West Bengal.

Expressing anguish over recent incidents of violence in parts of the state, the party's central committee at a meeting here accused the Trinamool of playing "competitive communalism".

The party claimed in a statement that communal disturbances in West Bengal started with the "violent manner" in which the festival of Ram Navami was sought to be celebrated by RSS-led organisations.

"This year... in keeping with the spirit of competitive communalism, the cooperation of the TMC and the administration was even more blatant with the ruling party itself giving a call for joining the celebration with the TMC and BJP-RSS leaders jointly participating in the programmes in several places," the CPI(M) said.

This was a part of the "vicious attempts at communal polarisation" spearheaded by Hindutva forces elsewhere in the country, it said.

"The policies of appeasement of communal forces by the TMC and the ineptitude of the state administration have led to this lethal strike by these forces," the statement said.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) urged the TMC government to take appropriate measures to restore peace in the state.

It appealed to the people to firmly oppose "this murderous campaign" and called on other Left and democratic forces to come out to the streets and articulate their concern for peace and harmony.