Author: Sabyasachi Bandopadhyay
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: August 7, 2009
URL: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/tandav-of-political-violence-in-bengal-guv/499161/
With political violence claiming over 50 lives
in the state since the Lok Sabha elections, Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi on
Thursday came down heavily on all political parties.
"Following the Lok Sabha elections, our
state has witnessed a veritable tandav of political violence. Not a day passes
without someone somewhere being killed for his politics. The widows' wail
rends each day," a statement signed by the Governor said.
Referring to the delegations from the Congress,
the Trinamool Congress and the Left Front who met him over the past three
days, urging him to do something to stop violence, Gandhi asked: "When
the leading political formations of West Bengal have the same objective why
should violence not abate?" He also provided the answer: "Because,
I believe those who can act are not doing so."
"Three fears burn in the political life
of our state: of fear, of the agony of bereavement, of rage. It becomes the
duty of our state's political leaders to tell their supporters that they must
stamp out these fears.... It becomes their duty to identify the violent within
their own organisations and leave them to be dealt with," he said.
