Heavyweight CPI(M) leader and former MP Anil Basu’s most offensive and obscene comments about Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has sparked a political storm in the state. Not only the Opposition but even the civil society at large has condemned it unequivocally.
The Trinamul Congress has demanded Mr Basu’s immediate arrest. The ruling CPI(M) is understandably on the back foot. Left red-faced, chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee who projects himself as an epitome of culture, has deplored the indecent comments. “I have asked my party to censure him. Use of such language is unpardonable and unbecoming of a communist leader,” he added. He, however, did not recommend any punishment for Mr Basu.
“The CPI(M) has now become morally bankrupt. The leaders of the CPI(M) are now spreading canards and indulging in character assassination,” Ms Banerjee said in a veiled reference to Mr Basu’s remarks. She was addressing a rally organised jointly by the Congress and the Trinamul Congress where Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was also present.
Mr Basu had launched a scathing attack against the Trinamul Congress for its alleged use of black money. He questioned the source of `34 crores that he alleged Ms Banerjee was spending on the election in a language that is simply unprintable. Trinamul Congress secretary general Partha Chatterjee, along with party state president Subrata Bakshi, called on state chief electoral officer Sunil Gupta on Saturday afternoon and lodged an official complaint against Mr Basu. He submitted a CD containing the video footage of Mr Basu’s speech at Arambagh.
Meanwhile, the EC said it has asked for CD and other material to go into the charge. “We have asked the complainant to produce evidence of CD and other material. We will place them before the commission which will take an appropriate decision based on facts,” deputy election commissioner Vinod Zutshi told reporters here.
Asked what action the EC proposes to take against Mr Basu, he said the commission was not aware of the details. “Whenever a complaint comes from any of the party, we insist on the complainant that they produce evidence,” he said.