Kolkata, Nov 28 (IANS) Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary Prakash Karat Saturday slammed Trinamool Congress’ demand to impose president’s rule in West Bengal, saying it was against “basic democratic principles”.
“Anybody who makes such demand should know that the demand of Article 356 (to impose president’s rule) goes against the basic democratic principles. The Supreme Court has already said that the use of Article 356 against an elected government is unconstitutional,” Karat told reporters here before entering a party meeting at CPI-M state headquarters.

Welcoming the central team which is scheduled to visit trouble-hit areas of Hooghly district, he said: “Let the central team come and review the situation ‘objectively and impartially’.

“If the central team looks at the situation, they will understand who is responsible for it. Everyone knows who is trying to destabilise the state.”

The CPI-M general secretary also met communist patriarch Jyoti Basu at his Salt Lake residence and enquired about his health.

“Karat came to meet Basu at his Salt Lake residence today (Saturday) afternoon to enquire about his ailing health. He talked to Basu for less than 10 minutes,” Basu’s personal assistant Joykrishna Ghosh told IANS.

He said the CPI-M general secretary did not continue the talks for long as the communist veteran was not well.

“It was just a courtesy meeting,” Ghosh said.

Karat arrived in Kolkata Saturday morning to attend a party meeting Saturday and Sunday. The West Bengal unit of the CPI-M will meet to discuss the issue of rectification guidelines for its party workers.