Thaindian News

Kolkata, April 17 (IANS) A section of intellectuals and other eminent persons in West Bengal supporting the state’s ruling Left Front have issued an appeal calling upon the people to establish a Third Front government at the centre.
Bringing out a booklet “Which Way Is The Country Heading This Time”, actors, sportsmen, theatre personalities, writers, poets, filmmakers and painters also urged the masses to vote for Left Front candidates in the state in the Lok Sabha polls.

The booklet analyses the political happenings in the state after the 2006 assembly polls, describing in detail the Tatas pulling out their Nano project from Singur and the opposition-sponsored agitations against the chemical hub in Nandigram and Nayachar.

“(Chief Minister) Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee is not responsible for what happened in Singur and Nandigram,” said veteran writer Buddhadeb Guha.

Film director Tarun Majumdar said the opposition forces were misleading the people on Singur and Nandigram.

“They know that if the Left Front succeeds in setting up industries, then it cannot be removed from power even in 50 years. So, they are waging war against industrialisation,” Majumdar said.

Among those who signed the appeal booklet are actor Soumitra Chatterjee, magician P.C. Sorcar (Junior), ex-footballers P.K. Banerjee and Chuni Goswami and theatre personality Usha Ganguly.

“We need a Third Front government in the centre. In this state there is no place for politics based on caste and religion. That’s because the Left is ruling here. So, we want a Left-backed government in Delhi,” Ganguly said.

The Singur and Nandigram episodes have divided the intellectuals of the state into two camps owing allegiance to the Left Front and the opposition Trinamool Congress.

In fact, many of those who were with the Left Front for these three decades have turned their back on the government.

During a recent meeting with the intelligentsia, Bhattacharjee admitted that many familiar faces were missing.

“I would have been happy to see some faces, whose minds are now cluttered with questions. I know from reports that there are doubts, debates and suspicions (among a section of the intellectuals). It would have felt great if I had come face to face with them,” Bhattacharjee added.

The pro-Left intellectuals will hold a public meeting at ‘Moharkunja’ in the heart of the city April 26 to canvas support for the Left Front.

Others present at Thursday’s meeting included physically challenged swimmer Masadur Rahman Baidya, former Bengal cricketer Sambaran Banerjee, writer Debesh Roy, actors Biplab Chattopadhyay, playwright Nilkantha Sengupta and painter Wasim Kapur.

Last week, another group of intellectuals opposed to the Left Front released their election manifesto seeking change in the state.