Violence over public distribution puts Bengal on back foot
Spectre of starvation deaths returns to haunt Left Front govt as mob fury kills five.
By PTI |
KOLKATA: Years after news of starvation deaths in West Bengal’s backward Purulia district had rocked the country, the Left Front government in the state is once again on the back foot over public anger against the state’s public distribution system (PDS).
Ever since a CPI(M) conference at Sonamukhi in Bankura district was attacked by about 400 villagers alleging the party leaders had links with unscrupulous ration dealers, a series of violent incidents, including beating up of dealers and torching of their shops and residences, have been reported from Birbhum, Murshidabad, Bankura and Burdwan districts.
So far, five lives have been lost, including two in police firing in Burdwan and Birbhum districts. A number of CPI(M) leaders, including the party MLA from Burdwan, Pradip Tah, were attacked and injured by a mob.
Home secretary PR Roy said on Tuesday that this was not a mere law and order issue, people had grievances against irregularities in the rationing system.
While Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has expressed shock at the silence of the Centre to the growing violence, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) general secretary Manas Bhuinya alleged that foodgrains were being stocked for distribution during the panchayat elections scheduled for next May.
Embarrassed at the public outburst ahead of the panchayat elections, ruling Left Front major CPI(M) has alleged ‘vested interests’ were trying to jeopardise the state’s rationing system by resorting to violence.
It also claimed that a systematic attempt was being made to attack the party and ‘hatch conspiracies’ against it on various issues.
While assuring that action would be taken on allegations against a section of ration dealers, chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has appealed to the people not to take law into their hands.
Pointing out that his government had been repeatedly urging the Centre to increase allocation of rice, wheat and kerosene to the state, Mr Bhattacharjee said steps were being taken to maintain supply of essential items through PDS.
Food minister Paresh Adhikary said last year supply of rice was around 2.2 lakh tonnes, but since April this year, the supply of wheat has declined.
Stating that the government was looking into allegations against ration dealers, Mr Adhikary said 117 ration dealers were suspended and 90 fined and licences of eight were cancelled between March last year
Of the distributors against whom complaints had been lodged during the period, 10 were suspended, six fined and the licence of one was cancelled.
Ever since a CPI(M) conference at Sonamukhi in Bankura district was attacked by about 400 villagers alleging the party leaders had links with unscrupulous ration dealers, a series of violent incidents, including beating up of dealers and torching of their shops and residences, have been reported from Birbhum, Murshidabad, Bankura and Burdwan districts.
So far, five lives have been lost, including two in police firing in Burdwan and Birbhum districts. A number of CPI(M) leaders, including the party MLA from Burdwan, Pradip Tah, were attacked and injured by a mob.
Home secretary PR Roy said on Tuesday that this was not a mere law and order issue, people had grievances against irregularities in the rationing system.
While Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has expressed shock at the silence of the Centre to the growing violence, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) general secretary Manas Bhuinya alleged that foodgrains were being stocked for distribution during the panchayat elections scheduled for next May.
Embarrassed at the public outburst ahead of the panchayat elections, ruling Left Front major CPI(M) has alleged ‘vested interests’ were trying to jeopardise the state’s rationing system by resorting to violence.
It also claimed that a systematic attempt was being made to attack the party and ‘hatch conspiracies’ against it on various issues.
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While assuring that action would be taken on allegations against a section of ration dealers, chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has appealed to the people not to take law into their hands.
Pointing out that his government had been repeatedly urging the Centre to increase allocation of rice, wheat and kerosene to the state, Mr Bhattacharjee said steps were being taken to maintain supply of essential items through PDS.
Food minister Paresh Adhikary said last year supply of rice was around 2.2 lakh tonnes, but since April this year, the supply of wheat has declined.
Stating that the government was looking into allegations against ration dealers, Mr Adhikary said 117 ration dealers were suspended and 90 fined and licences of eight were cancelled between March last year
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to September.Of the distributors against whom complaints had been lodged during the period, 10 were suspended, six fined and the licence of one was cancelled.
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Indicating that the government had no inkling of the simmering public anger, Mr Adhikary said the rationing monitoring committees failed to give the feedback to the government on the matter and their role would be scrutinised.Download
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