RAIGANJ,April 11: The Union I & B minister Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi today questioned the condition of law and order in the state prior to the panchayat polls. Mr Das Munshi at his residence in Kaliyaganj of North Dinajpur district today said that free and fair polls were not possible under the present law and order situation in the state perpetuated by the CPI-M.
Mr Dasmunshi said: “With an aim to recapture power at the panchyat level the CPI-M along with police has started attacking the Congress workers in the state on the lines of the Nandigram carnage. In the last two days they have killed three Congress activists who were identified as Abdul Rahim (25) and Jalan Seikh of Purushattampur in Murshidabad and Bandhu Mistri (57) of Muralpur in Birbhum. CPI-M leaders are using police force to achieve their goals.
“Under these circumstances fair poll in the state is impossible. The activities of police have compelled us to say that police should put on a red uniform instead of khaki in the state. If the chief minister of the state Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee remains tight-lipped regarding the crisis he will have to face public agitation before the panchyat polls. The CPI-M led government is using the police force to threaten their opponents in the state. Is this a proper situation to conduct peaceful polls?
“The role of Congress activists under the present conditions prior to the poll will be decided at our PCC meeting to be held on 13 April.”
Reportedly, Mr Dasmunshi today visited Balurghat in South Dinajpur to unite the Congress leaders before panchayat polls and will hold meetings at several places in North dinajpur tomorrow.