Is West Bengal Losing Her Image?

by

Dr. Keshab Chandra Mandal

 

West Bengal, the hotbed of independence movement and many political struggles, in the post-Left Front period came down (HAS COME DOWN) to the state of mockery and laughter to the cultural and educated intelligentsia and real civil society members from across the world. The unethical and capricious leadership of an unruly political party led by a one-time firebrand Opposition leadership of this country has caused unbearable pain and hardship to a great number of people in the society - from common citizens to the unemployed youths, and from a section of bureaucrats to the thousands of job-seekers as well as job-losers. The extent of bad governance has reached its zenith. The hobnobbing of a major portion of ministers with anti-social and subaltern goons and extortionists of the state has heightened the pain and suffering of the majority of people in the state. Disobeying the Constitution, defying the lawful orders of the High Court, openly abusing a section of honorable judges of the High Court, and supporting the illegal works of the party leaders have become the general norms of the day. The unlawful, unethical, and unaccepted words and works of party leaders are being supported and encouraged by the chief executive of the state.  Extortion, intimidation, land grabs, and threats to life by party cadres are nakedly incited and approved by the chief minister, also the home minister, herself. In case of amassing crores of black money through selling of government jobs in the open market like vegetables; owning acres of land by extortion; debarring the general voters from casting their democratic rights during elections from panchayats to pourasabha (MUNICIPALITIES) and from legislative assembly to Lok Sabha by the party goons; blackmailing the poor uneducated villagers; raping the helpless and husband-less young women, buxom girls, and even widows have gotten direct and open support from the chief minister. In every case, only except one of two, the head of the state has come forward immediately to support the doers of crimes and law-breakers of this state and hired India's highest-paid lawyers to defend them by using tax-payers money. Every election in West Bengal is bloody, and the common citizenry loses their life and property and is compelled to live their life in the most wretched condition. The people are helpless now. The Indian Constitution does not have any provision except the imposition of a state emergency to give respite from such corrupt and unbearable governance. The huge losses of property, houses, land, and lives of common people need protection at any cost without delay.