Thaindian News

Kolkata, June 4 (IANS) Accusing the Marxists of using IT to slander her government and incite violence, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Monday warned the CPI-M that people will be forced to take “stern” steps if this did not end.

In a signed guest column in the Bengali daily “Sambad Pratidin”, the chief minister said even friends of the Trinamool Congress government were being attacked.

“The time has come to say something very important. CPI-M is unable to stomach the constructive work we’ve started. So various conspiracies, character assassinations, slander, false propaganda are on. This cannot continue.”

Banerjee said police complaints too had been lodged.

“Some people feel they can get away scot free by sending anonymous letters. A probe is being started. People will not silently suffer such objectionable and dirty language.

“If such inciting and slanderous campaign go on, steps will be taken as per the people’s decision. The law will take its own course.

“Stop this. If such dirty and slanderous campaign go on, people will be forced to take a stern decision…

“People will take take a stern decision (through) democratic methods,” she added in the strongly-worded column.

Saying there should be a limit to “heinous acts” and “arrogance”, Banerjee accused the CPI-M of using the media to incite and provoke violence.

“This camp is using the social networking media… They are suing IT to carry out the slanderous campaign.

“Even the media and reporters are not being spared.

“A dirty campaign is on against an eminent painter like Subha Prasanna and (theatre personality) Arpita Ghosh.

“CPI-M has always issued fatwa on what somebody will say and do, and who he or she will support. So they are unable to bear the voice of those who support the changes in the state.

“What do they (the CPI-M) think?” she asked. “Nobody will have freedom? They will decide what people will eat or wear?”

Saying the CPI-M was unnerved by developments in the state, Banerjee said: “This is the reason you are slandering us… You want to put pressure and instil fear so that the pace of work suffers. But we will not allow this.”

“Those who do not like such reports should protest in a democratic way. But why should journalists be bad mouthed, and indecent comments made on their mobile phones?”

Stating that the CPI-M did not believe in democracy, she said: “To protect the democracy, the government will perform its duty.”