‘CPM won’t succumb to politics of terror’

CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Saturday asserted that his party would not “succumb to the politics of terror” by ruling Trinamul Congress and called upon Left workers to put up “greater resistance.” The comments from the CPI(M) general secretary came in the backdrop of post poll violence in which seven CPI(M) workers were killed.

“The violence has been unprecedented in West Bengal. So far, seven of our workers have died — four in the third phase and three earlier. The more violence they will perpetrate, the greater will be the resistance by the people. We will meet the challenge. Intimidation will not work as far as the CPI(M) is concerned,” Mr Yechury said at a press conference.

One CPI(M) polling agent named Tahidul Islam in Murshidabad’s Domkol area was brutally killed by TMC workers in the third phase of polling on Thursday. On Friday, two more CPI(M) workers, Sheikh Fazle Haq and Dukhi Ram Dal, were hacked to death allegedly by TMC goons in Burdwan district. Another Congress worker, Khandakar Ali, too was beaten to death by ruling party worker in Raina of the same district.

Mr Yechury also said that such violence cannot take place unless it is “patronised” by the ruling party. When asked about the party’s mechanism to put a resistance, Mr Yechury said, “We will put up a resistance and it will not be through their method of using bombs. It will be the collective pressure of the people. Democratic pressure has succeeded so far.” On Friday, the party had written to the Election Commission asking it to take tangible action and instil confidence among the people to vote freely and fairly.

The CPI(M) politburo member also alleged there was a nexus between BJP and TMC so that the “anti-incumbency” vote went to the BJP instead of the Left parties. “Whenever polling is held in one part of the state, he campaigns in another part. Why is the Prime Minister campaigning with so much of energy in Bengal ” Mr Yechury wondered. On the Narada sting operation, he alleged that it could not have happened without the patronisation of the party leadership.