Accusing ruling Trinamool Congress of unleashing violence against the Left during the West Bengal panchayat polls, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury on Wednesday said such “politics of terror” undermines democratic structures and ignoring the “warning” signs could be dangerous for democracy.
“This sort of politics of terror and violence completely undermines the democratic structure in the country and denies the people their basic democratic rights. This is simply unacceptable,” Mr. Yechury said.
Addressing the members of the CPI(M)’s Delhi state committee, Mr. Yechury claimed that during this panchayat elections, 24 CPI(M) cadres were murdered and 100 others were seriously injured.
“4,470 polling booths across the state were captured and genuine legal voters were prevented from exercising their elementary democratic right. There was complete rigging in the votes ensuring the victory of Trinamool candidate,” he alleged. Mr. Yechury also reminded the cadres of the “terror that was unleashed in West Bengal in early 1970s”.
“We had warned the country that this would not stop with West Bengal and portends danger to democracy in India as a whole. This unfortunately turned out to be true with the imposition of Emergency in 1975. The country paid a heavy price to restore democracy,” he said.
Similar warnings are there today, Mr. Yechury said, adding ignoring them could be dangerous.
Mr. Yechury said the issue was raised in both houses of Parliament on Wednesday.
