Challenging the police, which has banned law violation
programmes in the city, the Left Front defied the directive here on
Friday with its leaders courting arrest in support of their various
demands. They later asserted that in the future they would organise such
programmes without seeking the permission of the police.
Though
security arrangements for the programme at Rani Rashmoni Avenue in the
heart of the city were elaborate, not seen in the recent times, and the
venue hemmed in with barricades put up by the police, there was no
untoward incident as was anticipated by the administration. Besides
deploying thousands of police personnel, water cannons were stationed
nearby and a crane atop which the police kept a watch on developments
below.
Soon after a rally preceding the law violation
programme, senior Left Front leaders and their supporters tried to
breach the barricade. But before they could break through, the police
announced that all were being taken into custody. A judicial magistrate
present there granted unconditional bail to those arrested moments
later.
Senior Left Front leaders, including its
chairperson Biman Bose and leader of the Opposition in the State
Assembly Surya Kanta Mishra, however, refused to leave the venue and
held a sit-in demonstration for about an hour. They dispersed after
announcing that they would continue organising law violation programmes
without informing the authorities.
“Look how much
force has been deployed there. I have never seen a deployment,” Mr. Bose
said, adding that the posting of so many police personnel at the spot
could not have been done unless one has lost one’s mind.
“Where
in the world is there such a rule stipulating that the Opposition will
not be allowed to participate in law violation programmes?” he asked.
Speaking at the public rally, Mr. Mishra alleged that the State
government was violating existing laws and Constitutional provisions on a
daily basis.
“The number of times you will violate
laws, we will organise such law violations programmes. Your violation of
laws and our protests will continue,” he said, referring to Chief
Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Probe into death
The
programme was meant to highlight, among other issues, the Left Front’s
demand for a judicial probe into the death of SFI leader Sudipta Gupta
early last month and a court-monitored probe by the Central Bureau of
Investigation into the Saradha Group scam.
The city
police had after a meeting with major political parties in the State on
May 25 had announced its decision to ban law violation programme,
stating that it does not have the required infrastructure to tackle such
events.
(courtesy : The Hindu)
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