Press Statement
The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) expresses its deep grief at the passing away of Comrade Benoy Konar, a senior leader of the Party and the peasant movement. He died on September 14 a the age of 84.
Benoy Konar became a member of the Communist Party in 1948. Like his elder brother Harekrishna Konar, he became fully involved in organizing the peasant movement in Burdwan. He led various struggles of the agricultural workers and poor peasants. Benoy Konar became an important leader of the Kisan movement of West Bengal and served as the General Secretary and President of the state Kisan Sabha. Later he became the national President of the All India Kisan Sabha, a post in which he served for a number of years.
Benoy Konar was a staunch Marxist-Leninist. He was a member of the state committee of the CPI(M) from 1982 and became a member of the state secretariat in 1991. He was elected to the Central Committee of the Party in 1995 and became Chairman of the Central Control Commission in the 20th Congress of the Party. He was a member of the state legislative assembly from Memari constituency thrice.
Comrade Benoy Konar had to face police repression during his political activities. He was jailed under a number of false cases and spent six years and nine months in jail. He had also worked underground during the peasants struggles in Burdwan.
Benoy Konar served the Communist Party with great distinction. He was a powerful speaker. He was known for his firm ideological commitment to Marxism and led an exemplary life marked by simplicity. In his death the Communist movement and the peasant movement have suffered a big loss.
The Polit Bureau conveys its heartfelt condolences to his wife, Maharani Konar, sons and daughters.