CPI(M) against imposing Article 356 in West Bengal

December 17, 2014 07:59 am | Updated November 16, 2021 04:48 pm IST - Kolkata:

CPI(M) State secretary Biman Bose handing over a cheque to a family member of a party supporter killed in political violence. Leader of the Opposition Surjya Kanta Mishra is also seen at the rally held in Kolkata. Photo: Sushanta Patronobish.

CPI(M) State secretary Biman Bose handing over a cheque to a family member of a party supporter killed in political violence. Leader of the Opposition Surjya Kanta Mishra is also seen at the rally held in Kolkata. Photo: Sushanta Patronobish.

Even as the leadership of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) claimed that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee should have resigned after Cabinet Minister Madan Mitra’s arrest the party leadership said on Tuesday that it is against the Centre imposing Article 356 in the State.

Addressing a gathering organised at Shahid Minar ground in the city, CPI(M) State secretary Biman Bose and Leader of the Opposition Surjya Kanta Mishra both said that the party does not want the Centre’s intervention in West Bengal by imposing Article 356.

“Imposing Article 356 would give the State government the status of a martyr. We do not want that. We want the State government to continue so that the people realise how it is failing to fulfil its responsibility,” Mr. Bose, who is also a member of the Polit Bureau of the CPI(M), said.

Dr. Mishra also toed the same line adding that the AITC government should be removed from power through the people’s mandate in the next general elections scheduled in 2016. He however added that the Chief Minister should have resigned on moral grounds after Bengal’s Transport Minister was arrested.

The remarks are crucial as Ms. Banerjee, who has launched an offensive against the Centre, had herself has challenged the Centre to impose Article 356 in West Bengal.

At the rally, the CPI(M) leadership launched an offensive at the Central government accusing it of indulging in aggressive communalism.

Mr Bose added that while the Centre is indulging in aggressive communalism and added the State Government here was peddling soft communalism.

“By doing this the BJP is trying to corner the Hindu votes, while the TMC is attempting to polarise the Muslim votes,” Mr Bose said.

During the rally, which was organised by the North 24 Parganas District Committee, the CPI(M) leadership gave cheques to 18 party supporters who have died in political violence in the recent months.

After the rally a delegation of the CPI(M) leaders met State Education Minister Partha Chatterjee and submitted a deputation highlighting the demands of the party.

Top News Today

Sign in to unlock member-only benefits!
  • Access 10 free stories every month
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.