Bengal's Sorrow

Some sort of goondaism going on: Bengal governor Kolkata, Jan 9 (IANS) West Bengal Governor M.K. Narayanan Wednesday virtually rapped the Mamata Banerjee-led government over the clashes between CPI-M and Trinamool Congress workers, saying it was akin to "some sort of goondaism" which was "not acceptable".

He asked the police and the administration to function impartially in arresting the guilty.

"This is not a good political culture. I think some sort of goondaism is going on here," Narayanan told mediapersons on the sidelines of a programme here.

"The last two-three days have been very disturbing and distressing. This violence should not have taken place. We should not tolerate the violence that is taking place. This is not acceptable," Narayanan said.

"It is the duty of the administration and the police to take action against those who are responsible. There is clear evidence against the guilty. The police and the administration have to be impartial," the governor said when reporters sought his reaction on the issue. Trouble flared up in Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district late last week after one party office each of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and Trinamool Congress were damaged and set afire respectively.

When CPI-M legislator Abdur Rezzak Mollah went to the area, he was attacked by allegedly Trinamool workers, led by former lawmaker Arabul Islam.

Mollah has been admitted to a hospital.

Then Tuesday, many people were injured in firing and stone pelting in clashes between Trinamool Congress and CPI-M workers in Bamanghata in Bhangar.

I am glad we have a proactive governor.

We require such governors to rein in the corrupt government.

During the intitial days of CPM rule in West Bengal we had one such governor in Dharam Vir, who was a thorn for the CPM.

Subsequently, to please the CPM so that they would continue to support the Congress at the centre, the centre started appointing superannuated governors in W. Bengal. Rajmohan Gandhi was an exception and M K Narayanan, being assoacited in the government at the centre, is being exceptional.