The General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Sitaram Yechury, accused the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) of being complicit in the violence that has plagued West Bengal. Speaking at a press conference in Delhi, Yechury alleged that TMC practices double standards by speaking for democracy while simultaneously denying the same in their own state. This statement comes after the CPI(M) and TMC attended a meeting of opposition parties to resolve to fight the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Yechury referred to the recent panchayat polls in West Bengal, where violence and terror marked the elections. The CPI(M) activist Mansoor Alam was killed, among others. According to Yechury, violence in West Bengal has become the norm, with 34% of the seats uncontested during the previous panchayat elections due to unprecedented terror. The ongoing elections, though, have seen uncontested seats decreasing by almost two-thirds. Opposition parties argue TMC supporters intimidated candidates and assaulted them to prevent them from filing nomination papers, but TMC denied the accusations.
On Monday, West Bengal’s Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, criticised the CPI (M) and the Congress for playing second fiddle to the BJP in the state, which is spoiling her efforts to form a grand opposition alliance against the BJP at the Centre.
Yechury also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s US visit, stating he speaks like Gandhi abroad and like Godse while in India. Yechury believes that India has become the subordinate junior partner of US imperialism, as the US sees India as a crucial strategic and military partner to isolate China.
