Kolkata: A section of intellectuals who had openly rallied support behind Trinamul Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee to come power in 2011 on Wednesday tore into her party over the violence during the filing of nominations for the panchayat elections in the state.
Singers Pratul Mukhopadhyay and Pallab Kirtaniya and theatrician Bibhas Chakraborty were among those who warned the Trinamul goverment at a press meet in the Kolkata Press Club that a ruling party could not stay in power for long using force. Stung by the intellectuals’ volte face Trinamul swung into damage control mode within few hours.
Mr Mukhopadhyay observed, “If those whom we elected to power exercise their control then we land in a tough situation. When control engulfs a ruler then the danger which arises is not only for the mass. The danger is also for the ruler. The rule can not be continued for long by excercising control and mastership.”
Mr Chakraborty pointed out, “The situation has gone in the control of the miscreants since the filing of nominations began. I do not think that there is no sign of reining in them. We are aware that the elections in West Bengal have not passed through peacefully. But this time it has gone beyond all control.”
He added, “If such a situation prevails before the elections what will happen during the elections and its results? Will the miscreants still rule it? In that case it will turn out to be a shameful chapter.” Mr Kirtaniya noted, “Development has been so violent that nominations can not be filed by the candidates.”
He added, “A minister declared a reward of Rs 5 crores in those panchayats where the ruling party would win uncontested. Can it be said? It is nothing but hitting at the root of democracy.” Blaming the intellectuals for not checking facts Trinamool secretary general Partha Chatterjee however informed that the party would look into their grievances.
He said, “We will have a word with them to know if there was any fault or not. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee maintains good relations with all.” State BJP president Dilip Ghosh demanded that those intellectuals who slammed Ms Banerjee should tender their apologies for lending support to the Trinamul earlier.
