Expressing “grave concern” over the “denial” of people’s right to vote and contest panchayat polls in West Bengal, former Lok Sabha speaker Somnath Chatterjee yesterday said there was no democracy in the state which was heading towards a situation where demands for imposition of the Constitution’s Article 356 may be made.
Targeting Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, he said: “It seems she still has a lot of support in the state. So what is the need for her to do all this?”
“This is no normal election... It comes from a mentality to stick to power at any cost.
“This is unbelievable. Even the minimum rights of the people are being forcibly denied. There is not even a modicum of democracy. This is not only regrettable, but also a cause for deep concern,” said Chatterjee, who served as the presiding officer of the Lok Sabha from 2004 to 2009.
“In a democracy, election is like a festival. But now we are seeing a festival of blood,” he added.
Apparently putting the blame for the disturbances on the ruling Trinamool Congress party, Chatterjee said: “Everybody knows who is doing all this. The opposition in Bengal does not have the strength now to do all this. We have been seeing for some time misuse of power. It seems we are living in a jungle.”
Referring to incidents of widespread violence during filing of nominations for the rural polls, he said: “I feel very sad in the twilight of my life when I see people’s voting rights are being trampled upon, people have no security, and no right to vote and file nomination to contest election.”
The ten-time Lok Sabha MP, who was expelled from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in 2008 for not resigning after it withdrew support from the Manmohan Singh government, told journalists at his south Kolkata residence that the state was heading towards a situation where demand for imposition of Article 356 (dealing with provisions related to imposition of President’s rule in a state) may be raised.
“I don’t know, after a few days there may be a demand for imposition of Article 356,” said Chatterjee, sitting before a photograph of Cuban revolutionary leader Che Guevara.
“It is a matter of concern. It seems things are moving in that direction. So if anybody raises this demand, it will become a matter of consideration,” the octogenarian barrister-turned politician said when asked whether such a demand would be proper.
Lashing out at the ineffective role played by police, Chatterjee said: “Police are powerless spectators.”


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