West Bengal: ISF MLA’s Prolonged Incarceration: Game Plan is Clear
Subinoy Moulik
THOSE in West Bengal who laboured under the delusion that the Trinamool Congress had learnt a lesson from the countrywide condemnation it drew after making a mockery of the democratic voting process in the last panchayat polls in 2018 now know from the very recent happenings in the state that there is no room for even an iota of hope of revival of democratic freedom as long as the Mamata Banerjee-led party is in power. Especially from the torment that the lone Indian Secular Front (ISF) MLA in West Bengal, Mohammad Naushad Siddiqui, is being subjected to, it is now established beyond doubt that Trinamool is determined to ensure an “opposition-free” sweep in the upcoming panchayat elections.
VINDICTIVE POLITICS
The results of the 2021 Bengal assembly elections saw two unexpected events. First, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's election defeat in Nandigram by a margin of nearly 2,000 votes. Second, Md Naushad Siddiqui’s win by 26,000 votes from Bhangar constituency which was considered to be a bastion of the ruling party dominated by Trinamool-backed strongmen. From then on, he is an elected MLA, arguably the only real opposition MLA as ISF had won this single seat in the state. It is no wonder that after the election results came out the Trinomool reacted to the people’s verdict in Bhangar by vandalising hundreds of houses, rendering people homeless, and carrying on ruthless looting with the help of the police. The elected MLA was barred from holding any programme in his constituency day after day. He was attacked several times. The culprits went scot-free roaming openly, while police cases were instituted against the MLA himself. This is of course typical of an absolutely autocratic regime that abhors opposition in any form. Still, Trinamool does not feel relieved. It still remains unsure of its “vote bank”.
This is the plain and simple reason why 18 ISF workers, along with MLA Naushad Siddiqui, have been put behind bars on false charges just because of participating in a political movement. On January 21, there was a programme in Dharmatala, in the heart of Kolkata, on the occasion of the foundation anniversary of ISF. When ISF workers and supporters were coming to Kolkata from Bhangar to join this programme, Trinamool miscreants brutally attacked them in front of the police. Naushad Siddiqui's car was vandalised. In the Dharmatala programme, the ISF organised a protest demanding the arrest of the known miscreant Arabul Islam, a local Trinamool leader. Later while the programme was going on, police launched an unprovoked attack on ISF activists, including MLA Naushad Siddiqui, and arrested 19 people. A false case was filed against them based on non-bailable clauses as is usual in Bengal. In a statement on the incident, CPI(M) state secretary Mohammad Salim said, “We strongly condemn the Trinamool attack on MLA Naushad Siddiqui, the ISF activists and the common people of Bhangar. Land mafias are busy snatching away lands of villagers. Promoters are filling ponds, tanks and wetlands. And this attack is being carried out in the interest of syndicates who want to hand over these plots to developers. We call for statewide protests against this attack. A large-scale protest will be organised against this attack in Bhangar.”
After 10 days in police custody, Siddiqui’s bail application was rejected and he along with others was sent for another 14 days in jail custody. From the desperate plea of the government lawyers in favour of rejecting the bail application, it came to be known that the police have “found” a lot of information in the young MLA’s mobile phone that needs to be investigated. The police are behaving with the elected legislator as if he is a terrorist!
PANCHAYAT PANIC
The intention of the police became crystal clear when on February 3 Naushad Siddiqui was again sent to police custody in a non-bailable case instituted by the police of Leather Complex police station. The ISF alleged that the police and Trinamool were looking for this opportunity to take Naushad from jail custody to police custody. As soon as the MLA of Bhangar was taken to the Baruipur court, ISF workers started shouting slogans. They started demanding the release of Nausad Siddiqui. In response to journalists’ questions, Naushad Siddiqui said, “Trinamool is plotting against me because of the fear of losing the panchayat polls. Political intrigue is going on simply from the fear of defeat.”
So, the Trinamool’s game plan is now amply clear. It was here in Bhangar that some months ago the local Trinamool leaders openly spelt out for the first time in the entire state the shape of things rural Bengal shall be facing in the coming panchayat polls. They stated on record that no one, simply no one from the opposition, will be allowed to file nominations. “If anyone dares to be a candidate against the Trinamool, they cannot stay here” was the message, loud and clear.
However, the spirit of resistance of the people of Bhangar could not be suppressed. So, the Trinamool, jittery even about the slightest resistance, has now chosen this path. Attempts shall be made to keep Naushad Siddiqui in custody, if possible, for months by filing complex non-bailable cases in different police stations. Taking full advantage of his stay in prison, continuous efforts will be made to wipe out even the last traces of political opposition from the area.
But the people of Bhangar will not accept this injustice in silence. In fact, the democracy-loving people of rural Bengal shall not accept this affront to their electoral rights. Therefore, on the one hand, there will be a legal battle in court to demand the release of Naushad Siddiqui, on the other hand, people will take to the streets and protest to restore their freedom of choice and civil rights, which the Trinamool government is repeatedly violating in various ways. On February 14, all anti-BJP, anti-TMC political parties are going to hold a joint march in Kolkata. A similar march will be held in Bhangar by CPI(M) in which these anti-BJP, anti-TMC political parties would also participate.
It is no strange coincidence that incidents of bomb blasts are increasing in the state as the panchayat elections are approaching. Are these bomb-making ingredients being stockpiled without the knowledge of the state police administration? Isn’t it a fact that the deaths happening due to these blasts are an indication of sure violence in the upcoming panchayat elections? The questions are simple and their answers are known to everyone except perhaps the leaders and workers of the Trinamool Congress.
