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Asserting that “political Holi with human blood” must end, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Monday issued a “48-hour ultimatum” to the State Election Commission (SEC) to implement the Calcutta High Court’s directives to ensure free and fair panchayat elections in the state.
Speaking to reporters after meeting the family of a TMC worker, who was killed in Basanti in South 24 Parganas district on Saturday night, the Governor said that certain pockets of the state are witnessing violent incidents. “My visit to the field has convinced me that there is violence in certain pockets in West Bengal… I saw murders, intimidation, heinous crimes heaped upon innocent people… This political Holi with human blood has to end,” said Bose after meeting the daughter of 52-year-old TMC worker Jiyarul Molla who was shot dead late on Saturday night when he was returning home from Canning.
The Governor, who headed straight to Basanti after returning to Kolkata from north Bengal, where he visited violence-affected areas of Cooch Behar district, said that his visits were not a part of any “fault-finding” mission but it was a “fact-finding mission”.
“I have made my own assessment of the situation on how to turn this tide of violence. We must implement the Constitution in letter and spirit. Secondly, the Calcutta High Court has given an order on specific steps that need to be taken to ensure free and fair elections. More importantly, we have to make people fearless… The State Election Commission is responsible for holding the election in a free and fair manner. I still believe the state election commission will implement the High Court’s order,” he said.
“I have five specific points as per my observation. I will not share with the media now (observations). I know who are the gang leaders who are behind this (violence). That is also something which I will share with the competent authorities in confidence. I will give 48-hour. This is my ultimatum. Election is a time-bound affair. That’s why I will wait to see for 48 hours what actions the competent authorities are taking within the mandate of the High Court order. Based on the quality of the decision making, I will give my report card to my masters – that is the people of Bengal,” the Governor added.
Stating that he cannot dictate terms to his constitutional colleagues, the Governor said the primary responsibility to ensure that the July 8 panchayat elections are conducted in a free and fair manner rests solely with the State Election Commission.
“I appointed the state election commissioner (Rajiva Sinha) after verifying his track record. He is a competent officer and I trust his competence. This sad chapter of violence should end and will end. We will stand together to see that it ends,” he added.
So far, the Governor has visited violence-affected areas in Basanti, Canning and Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district and Dinhata and Sitai in Cooch Behar district in north Bengal.
Meanwhile, the deceased TMC worker’s daughter Manwara, who met the Governor today, alleged that her father was receiving life threats from a rival faction, and demanded a CBI probe into the murder.
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