Thaindian News

Kolkata, Aug 23 (IANS) Terming the Mamata Banerjee government “intolerant”, Marxist leader Surjya Kanta Mishra Thursday alleged it was trying to evade its responsibilities on law and order by cooking up theories of “conspiracies” and “rotten campaigns”.

“The state government can’t tolerate criticism. If you criticise them, then you are conspiring against the government. They are still to don the cap of ruling party,” said Mishra, who is Leaderf of Opposition the state assembly.

“In the assembly the way they behave, it seems they are still the opposition party,” added Mishra, who is a Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) politburo member.

Mishra’s comments come in the wake of the Aug 11 arrest of Shiladitya Chowdhury for “disrupting a public rally, entering into a high security zone and assaulting police personnel”.

While Banerjee was addressing a rally Aug 8 in the Maoist-affected Belpahari area in West Midnapore district, Chowdhury stood up and asked Banerjee: “Farmers are dying because they have no money. Empty promises are not enough. What are you doing for farmers?”

Stunned by the question, an angry Banerjee immediately branded him a “Maoist”, following which police detained Chowdhury and bundled him away for interrogation.

“Nowdays in Bengal if you question the government, you will be branded as Maoists and put behind bars. This is what they (Trinamool Congress) call democracy. If you ask questions, they will point fingers at the previous Left regime, as if we are still ruling the state,” Mishra said.

Mishra criticised the state government for not granting permission to former chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee to hold a rally in Hoogly district.

“They have denied us permission to hold a rally at Arambagh with Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee as the main speaker. We know why they are trying to curb our democratic rights. Other political parties of the state will also face the same fate,” he said.