WEST Bengal erupted in protest against Trinamool MP Tapas Paul’s open threat to kill CPI(M) workers and rape the women of their families. After his frightening speech was telecast, people from different sections have condemned him sharply. The Left Front has noted that the speech of the MP is another example of attack on human rights and democracy in West Bengal. Addressing a workers’ meeting at Chowmatha village in Tehatta in Nadia district, which falls in his parliamentary constituency of Krishnanagar, on June 14, Paul threatened local CPI(M) supporters and said, “I will destroy entire family. I will unleash my boys, they will enter their houses and rape them, rape them.” But ‘raping’ was not the only ‘punishment’ for being a CPI(M) supporter. Paul , in his speech, said, “If any CPM (worker) dares to touch my Trinamool (people), I will destroy his gushti (extended family)… Baari, ghor, gushti aami shesh kore diye chole jaabo… (I will destroy their homes and entire extended families)”. The two time MP also boasted that he is an anti-social too and carried revolver. “Aami prochur mastaani korechhi… aami pockete maal niye ghuri… aami nije revolver diye guli kore chole jaabo…CPM ke guli kore maarbo… (“I have been a hoodlum myself… I walk around with a gun in my pocket… I will personally shoot CPM (supporters) with a revolver…,” said Paul. This speech, though known to villagers in the area, came to light through a video telecast by a leading Bengali television channel. It immediately produced shock and indignation throughout the state. The speech not only reflected the mindset of a wretched individual, but also exposed the political terror unleashed by the ruling party in the state. That this was not an isolated act of hooliganism has been proved by the fact that in Tehatta in Nadia, CPI(M)’s elected panchayat member Abdul Haque Sheikh was murdered on June 27. His killing was aimed to reduce the strength of the CPI(M) in the gram panchayat to capture it. Another elected member of the same panchayat, Ranjit Mallik was murdered after the panchayat elections itself. A reign of terror has been unleashed in large parts of Nadia district. IMMEDIATE PROTEST Left Front chairman Biman Basu called upon all sections of people to protest against such intimidation by a member of parliament. Basu alleged that this is a clear reflection of the attitude of the ruling party who are on their way to destroy democracy and establish a jungle raj in the state. Opposition leader Surya Kanta Misra termed this behavior as ‘natural’ from an MP of the TMC, given the attitude of their supreme leader. Misra demanded that the police should take suo moto cognizance of the speech and arrest the MP. AIDWA organised a road blockade in Bowbazar area of Kolkata. AIDWA and ICDS workers staged protest rallies throughout the state. In Nadia district, where the threat was issued, hundreds of people rallied in different localities. SFI and DYFI workers took out rallies for two consecutive days in all parts of the state. A large procession was organised in Nakashipara in Nadia where CPI(M) leaders participated. In Kolkata, Siliguri, Burdwan, Purulia and other places students and youths burnt effigy of the MP. Leading intellectuals condemned the speech of the MP. AIDWA and other mass organisations have decided to continue the protest actions. MAMATA’S REACTION Facing severe criticism, Tapas Paul wrote a ‘letter of apology’ to his party. There he defended himself as uttering those words ‘in the heat and dust of the election campaign’. It was, however, a blatant lie as the speech was delivered after a month of elections. Initially Trinamool Congress said it has accepted the apology. The reaction of the chief minister was unique. She said that she did not approve such statements but what could she do. ‘I cannot kill him”, was her refrain. But within 24 hours, the tune changed. In a meeting of the TMC MPs Mamata Banerjee castigated the media for showing such videos by buying from local people. She advised her party leaders to be careful not to talk like this in front of cameras. With the chief minister virtually condoning, the state police has refused to take any initiative on the issue. It was a repeat of Anubrata Mondal episode where the TMC Birbhum district president Mondal threatened to burn the houses of the TMC rebels and even throwing bombs on police. TMC rebels’ houses were actually attacked and father of one rebel TMC leader was killed. Police refused to act for long and Mamata Banerjee openly shielded Mondal. Kolkata High Court had to intervene to start a probe on the incident. Another TMC MLA, Manirul Haque of same district was seen boasting about killing three CPI(M) activists in Lavpur. Even after that, no police action was initiated against the accused MLA. Kolkata High Court is presently hearing a case on the incident. Protection of the chief minister herself has become the greatest shield of the mafia TMC leaders. Meanwhile, apprehensive of an attack on them, the villagers of Gopinathpur, where the MP made his statement are spending sleepless nights. Women say they have stopped sending their children to school or men from venturing out of their homes.