Bengal opposition back governor's attack on government

The West Bengal opposition Thursday attacked the government, a day after Governor M.K. Narayanan described the political clashes in the state as "some kind of goondaism" and referred to police "weaknesses" in view of the "law and order situation".

Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Shyamal Chakraborty compared the government of Mamata Banerjee to the Hitler regime.

"What the governor has said is very significant. This government is running the administration just like Hitler," he said.

"They are committing atrocities on political opponents, murdering them and slapping false cases against them."

State Congress president Pradip Bhattacharya said the governor had only spoken the truth.

"The situation in the state is gradually slipping out of the hands of  police and going into the hands of goondas (anti-socials). What is more disturbing, a section of the police is aiding these goondas though a part is opposing it," he said.

He alleged there were efforts to establish an autocracy.

Former state BJP president Tathagata Roy also backed Narayanan.

"Whatever he has said is right. The administration and police are expected to function independently. But since the time of the CPI-M, the process of injecting politics in police and administration is on.

"Compared to the past, what is happening now is more dangerous," he said.
Speaking on the sidelines of a programme here Wednesday, Narayanan asked police and the administration to function impartially while arresting the guilty.
"This is not a good political culture. I think this is some kind of goondaism going on here...

"The last two-three days have been more distressing and very disturbing. This violence should not have taken place.

"We cannot and should not tolerate the violence. A City like Kolkata and state like West Bengal cannot accept this," Narayanan said.

Asked if he was satisfied with the role of police in tackling the clashes, he said: "Clearly when there is a major law and order situation, there are weaknesses around."

Trouble flared in Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district late last week after a Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) office and a Trinamool Congress office were damaged and set on fire respectively.

When CPI-M legislator Abdur Rezzak Mollah went to the area, he was attacked by allegedly Trinamool workers.

On Tuesday, many were injured in clashes between Trinamool Congress and CPI-M workers in Bamanghata in Bhangar.