Ma, Mati, Manush and murder? Why isn't Mamata Banerjee taking a firm stand on Bengal violence?
Bengal has been in the grip of violence since the Panchayat polls process began in the state in May.
An 18-year-old boy is killed for “being a BJP worker” in Purulia, a chilling “explainer” scrawled on his T-shirt. Barely four days later, another BJP man is found hanging from an electricty pole in the same district. The police are quick to term the death a "suicide".
The two are the latest in a series of horrific political murders Bengal has seen since the panchayat poll process began in the state in May. A senior member of the ruling TMC, Derek O’ Brien, has tried to put the killings in perspective by asking people to calculate the “percentage of deaths”, and compare them with what Bengal has witnessed earlier.
To all 'newborn' experts on Bengal #PanchayatElections in State have a history. 400 killed in poll violence in 1990s in CPIM rule. 2003: 40 dead.Every death is a tragedy. Now closer to normal than earlier times.Yes, few dozen incidents. Say,40 out of 58000 booths. What's %age ?
— Derek O'Brien (@derekobrienmp) May 14, 2018
The state's otherwise vocal chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, has not made one statement about controlling the violence and ensuring the perpetrators, no matter who they are, are brought to justice.
Where are the candle-light marches to protest the murder of democracy in Bengal?
Over the past few months, Banerjee has sought to fashion herself as the big didi of liberalism and secularism, whether with her recent refusal to attend a NITI Aayog meeting scheduled on Eid, her determination to allow the smooth screening of Padmaavat, or her “Meat on Wheels” project in March 2017 when the BJP was cracking down on illegal slaughterhouses.
All the while, political party workers — of all hues — have been threatened, assaulted, even killed in her state, as shown by the National Crime Records Bureau data.
During the recent panchayat polls, the Opposition members repeatedly accused TMC workers of preventing them from filing nominations, and the process finally had to be conducted over WhatsApp in several areas.
That in itself was a bad enough show, but, despite sufficient warning, he election day itself saw widespread booth rigging and clashes – all of which have raised questions over Banerjee’s capabilities as a CM who can control chaos.
The TMC has tried to defend itself over the violence by claiming that its members are being killed too, with the collusion of all Opposition parties, Naxalites, even goons brought in from neighbouring Jharkhand, which is governed by the BJP.
CPI(M) and BJP are now so desperate that they are even ganging up with Maoists to kill/shoot/stab three Trinamool workers in different incidents in #Bengal today. Deliberately trying to foment trouble. Is this democracy? #PanchayatElection
— Derek O'Brien (@derekobrienmp) May 14, 2018
Even if these claims are true, they still point at the failure of the Banerjee government. It is the government’s job to keep its people — all its people — safe, and if lumpen elements are able to come in from other states and kill anyone, the administration has failed in its duty. Yet, during the Panchayat elections, even a poll official was found dead on train tracks near Raiganj station.
But there has been remarkably little introspection by the party — or the liberals who are its usual supporters — over such crimes. While there had been vocal, and justified, outrage over the Ram Navami violence in Bengal, the same intensity is missing in any criticism this time round.
The weak explanation strongly offered instead — that political murders have been endemic to Bengal — is no defence at all.
Banerjee has herself been a witness and a victim of the bloody politics of Bengal — since the 1970s, workers of every party in power, whether the Congress, the Left or the TMC, have targeted each other and Naxalites, and Naxalites have targeted them all.
Banerjee, of all people, should have been conscious of the devastating impact of such institutionalised violence. In fact, the TMC’s slogan before coming to power had been “Bodla noi, bodol chai” (we want change, not revenge). Sadly, one of the first "poribortons" ("change", another TMC campaign promise) after the party formed the government seems to have been a change of heart over this promise.
However, it is not Banerjee alone who should be questioned over her silence.
The TMC chief’s political stock has been rising over the past few years as she steadfastly holds fort in Bengal against the BJP’s electoral onslaught. She is being seen as one of the primary movers and shakers of the third or even the fourth front being formed against the saffron party. If the Opposition manages to unite for a “grand alliance”, the TMC will be a key constituent.
One of the chief rallying cries of the “grand alliance” has been to stem the "fascist threat" the BJP supposedly embodies. The disparate parties have tried to justify their coming together as a noble “save democracy” mission.
The slogan will remain hollow as long as none of the Opposition leaders — whether Rahul Gandhi, HD Deve Gowda, Chandrababu Naidu, Akhilesh Yadav — demand answers and accountability from Banerjee now over what just happened in her state.
Didi cannot be the champion of liberalism and remain silent over gruesome murders at the same time.
That is not the kind of hero Indian democracy needs, or deserves.