RSP accuses CPI(M) of "engineering" Basanti incident

Kolkata, May 20 (UNI) Pointing the needle of suspicion at the CPI(M), RSP state secretary Debabrata Bandopadhaya today accused the former of "engineering" the Basanti incident in which Irrigation and Waterways Minister Subhas Naskar's relative was killed.

'' Before the Panchayat election, Mr Naskar told Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee that the situation in Basanti is volatile and warrants deployment of Rapid Action Force(RAF) and Central forces for conducting peaceful election in the area, but Mr Bhattacharjee turned a blaind eye to our appeal, '' state party secretary Mr Bandopadhaya told newspersons here.

He described the Basanti incident as "shameless and unfortunate" and alleged that six RSP activists were killed by the CPI(M) activists.

'' Had the Chief Minister given credence to our appeal for deployment of Central forces, the situation could not have assumed such an alarming proportion, '' he iterated.

The CPI(M)-led motorbike forces had raided the Minister's house and hurled bombs there in which Mr Naskar's relative Gouri Naskar was injured. Later she succumbed to her wounds at SSKM hospital next day, he alleged.

The accused were roaming freely in the area and the administration had not taken any action against them, he also alleged.

He said, '' We were shocked when Left Chairman Biman Bose and several CPI(M) leaders said the bombs and ammunition, kept inside the Minister's house, exploded leading to the death. '' He said the onus was on three Ministers Abdul Rezzak Mollah, Kanti Gangully and Subhas Naskar for maintaining peace in Basanti, but violating the order of Mr Mollah, the CPI(M) activists hopped from booth to booth.

State PWD Minister and RSP leader Kshiti Goswami apprehended that Mr Naskar would have been deliberately involved in the incident only to hush up the real matter.

He said the party would stay in the Front and lodge their protest.

'' We will raise our voice in the Front meeting and the CPI(M) should clarify whether it would allow the RSP to work independently, '' Mr Goswami asked.

He said the RSP stood by Mr Naskar all through and announce the future course of action in the next state committee meeting to be held on May 25.

UNI AKM SJC RN1913