CPI(M) to hold national-level protests in July

The Central Committee of the CPI(M) has decided to hold a national-level protest in July against the alleged "murder of democracy" in Tripura and West Bengal.

After its three-day Central Committee meet ended on Sunday, the party in a statement condemned the attacks on Left party's workers in Tripura.

It alleged that since the Assembly elections four party workers had been killed and nearly 100 offices of the party and mass organisations demolished, forcibly evicted or occupied.

In the face of these attacks nearly 500 workers had to shift from their houses and were temporarily accommodated in camps at party offices, the CPI(M) alleged adding that even its programmes and events had come under attack.

It alleged that Manik Sarkar, a former chief minister and leader of the opposition in the Tripura Assembly, was obstructed from visiting distressed tribal areas along with a team of elected MLAs.

The party noted that the leader of the opposition discharged responsibilities equivalent to the rank of a Cabinet minister under Indian parliamentary democracy.

It alleged that the move of obstructing the legitimate programmes was unprecedented and it constituted a violation of Constitutional rights of legislators.

It also accused the TMC of attacking opposition parties and their candidates during Panchayat elections in West Bengal through collaboration with state police, administration and state election commission.

The Left party alleged that the whole election process had been turned into a "total farce". Even family members of the candidates were targeted and ten Left workers died during these elections, the CPI(M) said.

"Given the grave situation in both these states, the Central Committee decided to hold a national-level protest against the murder of democracy in the states of West Bengal and Tripura in the month of July," the party said.