Political violence and the “politics of confrontation” are a big worry for West Bengal as even civil society and the media tend to politicise issues, rues Somnath Chatterjee. The former Lok Sabha Speaker is concerned about free and fair Assembly polls as the trend is to “terrorise and mislead people”.
“Today the trend is to terrorise and mislead people through falsehood and make politics out of confrontation and conflict. It is a matter of greatest concern and worry today. Issues are becoming more and more irrelevant. It has reached a crescendo in West Bengal,” Mr Chatterjee, 81, said in an exclusive interview.
The former Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) MP alleged that a section of the media has become “wholly politicised” and is fanning trouble. “One shudders to read about killings, murders and also the role of a section of civil society, which has been discriminating with respect to deaths, murders and mayhem on the basis of their own political thinking and affiliation — something not always openly admitted,” said Mr Chatterjee.
In the Assembly polls from April 18-May 10, some political observers say the Left Front is facing the stiffest challenge of its 34-year reign.
Asked if it would be different from the other elections fought since 1977, Mr Chatterjee said: “Well, I don’t know. I am not campaigning. I am not taking part in these elections. I am not going anywhere for these elections.” “I only hope that people will be allowed to vote freely and fairly. I have seen the 1972 elections, which were a farce,” he said while refusing to compare the current situation with the state of affairs when Emergency was proclaimed in 1975.
“There is no point trying to compare the situation today with what happened during the Emergency because that was a case of a power- hungry government trying to end democracy in this country to remain in power,” said Mr Chatterjee.
—IANS