On Conduct of Peaceful Polls in Bengal: Memo to EC

April 13, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Sir,

 

 

We draw your attention to the most critical issues threatening the holding of peaceful free and fair elections for the elections to the West Bengal Assembly, 2011. 

 

We would also like to recall that we had earlier appraised the Commission of the three most crucial areas which posed a threat to peace. The first, of course, was the TMC-Maoist nexus which was threatening to perpetrate a campaign of violence and terror in the three districts of Jangalmahal and some of the districts like Birbhum which is adjoining Jharkhand border. We must take this opportunity to inform the Commission that the Maoists have issued a public statement on April 11, 2011 (Annexure 1) which clearly brings out their preferences. Maoist spokesman in a written statement has forewarned the Left and the Congress asking these parties to desist from carrying out campaign for elections whereas clearly there is no such stricture for the TMC. 

 

The second area that we had highlighted before the Commission was the Darjeeling Hills. The threat to peace and the atmosphere of coercion and intimidation was springing from the aggressive anti-democratic actions of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM). We would like to thank the Commission for its initiative which led to improvement of the situation in the hills leading to filing of nomination by multiple candidates belonging to different political parties including the GJM. But now, as and how the elections are coming closer, GJM is back to its old methods of terror and intimidation. We are appending herewith a representation to the Commission from the Darjeeling District Committee of the CPI(M) (Annexure 2), which has alleged that the GJM Chief, Bimal Gurung, publicly threatened GNLF chief Subhas Geising that his `visa’ to stay in the hills will expire on April 18 after the elections are over. Shri Gurung happens to be an accused in a criminal case and is out on bail. It is clear that his threat not only constitutes a violation of MCC but also completely vitiates the atmosphere for conducting free and fair elections in the three Assembly constituencies of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Karseong. We request the Commission to take urgent action against Shri Gurung and his presence outside will threaten the normal holding of elections. 

 

And, finally, we had also appraised the Commission about the campaign of terror and violence of the TMC in many parts of South Bengal, particularly the Purba Medinipur district. We must put on record our appreciation for the initial steps taken by the Commission to initiate action whereby supporters of the Left Front who had been earlier evicted from their home and hearth and spent harrowing time in the relief camps could return to their residence in the most violence-affected areas particularly Khejuri and Nandigram. While the situation was improving with arrests of anti-social elements who were charged with non-bailable warrants for criminal acts, the Commission had decided to transfer out the Superintendent of Police of the district. From media reports, we had been informed that the EC had exercised its own wisdom and this action was taken without a reference to the state government. The state government, as media reports suggests, in a spirit of accommodation did not raise the question of its constitutional prerogative on the law and order question. Naturally, we had expected that there will be a further improvement of the situation. However, our hopes have been completely belied. We have provided the detailed accounts of the incidents as to how people who have returned and who support the Left has been attacked, tortured and persecuted by the TMC-led hoodlums and the partisan role of the local police administration.(Annexures 3 to 20)

 

It seems that unless there is a major initiative by the EC to rectify the situation, it will be very difficult to conduct free and fair polls in Purba Medinipur district. We had press reports about uncovering of factories for manufacturing arms in Satengabari under Nandigram Assembly constituency. There is also apprehension about use of Maoist armed cadre in Purba Medinipur by the TMC. We had already appraised the Commission about the involvement of the Maoist elements in the Nandigram area in the past. 

 

Given this serious situation, we urge the Commission to ensure security deployment in such a manner that the continuing criminal activities, terrorization and intimidation by criminal and miscreants of the TMC is brought to a halt. We urge that not only should there be preparation for protecting the polling stations but also villages where the current phase of intimidation and terrorization is continuing. We also strongly urge that all elements charged with non-bailable warrants in the district particularly in Nandigram, Khejuri, Bhagwanpur and Kanthi Uttar is ensured are arrested under the provisions of the law. 

 

 

 

 

Yours sincerely