TMC legislator threatens Cong leader

As a controversy rages over a ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader asking party workers to attack houses of Independent candidates in the ongoing panchayat polls, a TMC  legislator on Sunday publicly threatened to decapitate a Congress leader.

The threat was directed at Bapi Dutta,  Congress leader from Birbhum district.
“Bapi Dutta, it would not take me even a minute to behead you,” shouted Monirul Islam, TMC MLA  from Labhpur in Birbhum district, at an election rally. Continuing in the same vein, the TMC MLA claimed he had “squashed” three people under his feet for committing atrocities against women.

Dutta, the target of the verbal attack, reacted sharply: “There is no doubt that TMC is a party of anti-socials. People will give Monirul’s comments a befitting reply through the ballot.”

The threat comes close on the heels of the party’s Birbhum district president Anubrata Mandal saying at a rally, “If Independent candidates issue threats, set their houses on fire.”

Asking the people not to vote for Independent candidates, many of whom are believed to be dissident TMC workers, Mandal said: “If the administration thinks of supporting the Independents, then hurl bombs at the police and the administration. I am telling you.”

However, facing widespread criticism, Mandal backtracked on Thursday claiming it was “slip of tongue”. The state Election Commission (SEC) has asked the state government and the district administration to take steps against Mondal, but nothing has been done so far.

The opposition parties asked the SEC to take action after Monirul’s comments were aired by local television channels.

CPM state secretariat member Rabin Deb said the “despicable” comments by  TMC leaders like Monirul were vitiating the atmosphere and encouraging anti-social elements.