In a role-reversal of sorts about a dozen supporters of the ruling Trinamool Congress and their families have fled the Hanskhali village bordering Bangladesh after hundreds of armed BJP supporters attacked ransacked their houses.
The incident took place at Choto Bridge area of Hanskhali a block bordering Bangladesh. ‘’We had to run with our lives even leaving back the boiling rice on the oven,’’ Sima Das the wife of Mintu Das a TMC worker said.
“Even my old father in law and my toddling child was not safe at their hands as they were charging menacingly at us threatening to burn us alive,’’ said Arati another woman and the wife of a local TMC tough.
The whole CPI(M) workers and many TMC and Congress men had changed sides joining the BJP and are now being backed by the CAPF, the TMC sources said, adding
“If the State Government fails to protect us then we will also have to join the BJP.’’
Though the BJP leadership denied the charges a local BJP leader from Nadia district said, “these people are being paid back in their own coins. When these hapless people were in the CPI(M) they were subjected to inhuman torture, their lands were snatched, they had to pay survival taxes and they were not allowed to vote. Now they think that the CPI(M) has no Government in the Centre so only the BJP which is ruling Delhi will be able to save them. Now they are taking their revenge.’’
In fact a good many number of TMC leaders have also switched sides to the BJP following the murder of a local party strongman and MLA Satya Biswas whose wife Rupali is contesting from the TMC.
Though the locals say that CPI(M)’s Rama Biswas is the “best person and best candidate’’ she may not get the votes considering the “wave in favour of the BJP’’ which has fielded Jagannath Sarkar a school teacher. Though the Congress has Minati Biswas in absence of any alliance with the Left most of the workers are either sitting idle or working for the BJP.
“The main anger in the region even among the TMC voters they were not given to vote in the panchayat elections. Booths after booth the voters were not allowed to vote or even beaten back if they resisted. So in the presence of the CAPF they are seeing their chance to vote this Government our,’’ Swapan Bhowmick Hanshkhali Congress secretary said.
On the other hand CPI(M)’s leadership said, “Wait for the results and you will see everything for yourself.’’ LF candidate Rama Biswas said Nadia barring for a pocket of Krishnagar where the BJP had a traditional stronghold the Left supporters are very conscious and if they get a chance to vote the result will be different.