CPI(M) holds Mamata responsible for killing of leaders

KOLKATA: Holding Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee responsible for the killing of two party leaders in West Bengal's Burdwan town today, the CPI(M) demanded a statement from her on the incident.

"The chief minister has the biggest responsibility as the supreme leader of her party (Trinamool Congress), the home minister and the head of the state," Leader of Opposition and and CPI(M) leader Suryakanta Mishra told reporters here.

"She has to make a statement," Mishra said, accusing the administration of playing a partisan role.

"The administration is hand in-glove with the ruling party and its goons who have unleashed a reign of terror in the state. The entire state is burning, the ruling party is taking the state towards anarchy," he alleged.

CPI(M) leaders Pradip Tah and Kamal Gayen were killed in an attack during a procession in Burdwan town.

Claiming that with these deaths, so far 58 CPI(M) workers and leaders have been killed since the Assembly elections last year, he said, "These incidents show in which direction the state is moving."

CPI(M) has called a 12-hour bandh in Burdwan district tomorrow and rallies would be held in other parts of the state to protest the attack, he said, before leaving for Dewandighi in Burdwan town, where the incident occurred this morning.

Holding an impromptu press conference outside the Assembly gate since such press meets have been banned inside the premises by the Speaker when the House was not in session, Mishra said, "No one can prevent us from making the (industrial) strike successful on February 28."

He also criticised the government's decision not to grant leave to employees on February 28.