'Politics of violence was never Bengal's tradition'

Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee lashed out at Opposition parties in the state for bringing in "outsiders" from other states to create trouble during the formation of boards in Panchayats.

Stating that "politics of violence was never the tradition and culture" of Bengal, the Chief Minister maintained that workers of her party are giving their lives to build protest against such acts.

It may be recalled that in connection with the violence over formation of boards in Panchayats, the Chief Minister had earlier urged all political parties to maintain peace instead of confrontation to form a board.

On Wednesday while leaving Nabanna, the Chief Minister said: "Mainly those who don't have confidence on themselves, resort to the politics of violence."

Stating that the violence has claimed many lives, the Chief Minister said: "The politics of murder and terror campaign has come up as a new model. Opposition political parties are bringing people from outside the state to create trouble here. Many of our workers are giving their lives to ensure that politics of violence doesn't affect the tradition of peace and harmony in the state."

In connection with the incident at Amdanga in North 24-Parganas, in which two Trinamool Congress workers were killed, the Chief Minister maintained that the trouble at the place was planned.

While speaking on Monday about the violence over board formation in Panchayats, the Chief Minister had said that some people were brought to the state through the Bihar border on Sunday, to create trouble.

In the same breath she had said that outsiders had also been brought in through the bordering areas in Alipurduar and Malda.

The state Urban Development and Municipal Affairs minister Firhad Hakim said in this connection: "The Chief Minister had stated on Tuesday that CPI(M)'s harmads have now turned into BJP's jallads. In Uluberia, the chaos was created without any reason. They are creating trouble on purpose to show that a major problem in going on in the state."

"But in most of the places, the process of the formation of Panchayat boards is going on peacefully. Stray incidents are taking place in two-three places and that too is the outcome of the vested interest of some people," he added.

In connection with the Amdanga incident, Hakim said that the police are probing into the incident and law will take its own course.

Meanwhile, in connection with appointment of administrator in Chandernagore Municipality, Hakim said: "The municipality

was not functioning properly to ensure better service to

the common people. Our first aim is to work for the people and neither ego nor vested interest should come

in between. Action will be taken if one is found working for his/her vested interests, even if the person is from our party."