By IANS,
Kolkata : With two ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) activists, including a top district leader, convicted in the Tapasi Malik murder case, West Bengal’s opposition parties Tuesday were quick to demand the resignation of Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.
A fast track court at Chandannagar sub-division in Hooghly district convicted the prime accused Suhrid Dutta, CPI-M Singur zonal committee secretary and and party activist Debu Malik, for masterminding the conspiracy to murder Tapasi, 18, in Dec 2006.
Tapasi, from Bajemelia village in Singur, was an active member of the opposition Trinamool Congress-led Save Farmland Committee that was protesting land acquisition in the area for the Tata Motors Nano project.
Seizing the opportunity provided by the conviction in the sensational case, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee and state Congress vice president Manas Bhuniya went hammer and tongs at the state’s ruling Left Front major.
“I welcome the judgement. The daughter of the landless labourer was killed because she was in the forefront of the peasants’ movement against the forcible acquisition of land by the government for the Tata Motors’ small car project. It was meant to be a message to the agitators,” Banerjee told reporters at her residence.
She announced a “March to Singur” programme Dec 15, the day two years back when Tapasi’s body was found inside the Tata Motors’ fenced off factory area. “We will observe Dec 15 as Tapasi Malik Day.”
Seemingly crestfallen, CPI-M leaders, however, said the party would ensure an appeal against the verdict.
Banerjee took strong exception to some adverse comments made by CPI-M state secretariat member Benoy Konar on the judgement. “They are free to appeal to a higher court. But why are they saying all these? If a party state secretariat member says so, then what is the message going to the public?”
Banerjee said the chief minister, who also holds the police portfolio, has lost the moral right to continue in office after Tuesday’s judgement, which is a proof of the way the CPI-M commits atrocities on people.
“As police minister he is responsible. As the administrative head, he has lost his credibility. We demand his resignation. He has no moral right to continue,” Banerjee said.
Congress’ Bhuniya said the verdict proved that the CPI-M was all along misleading the people about the shocking case. “We have always held that CPI-M leaders were responsible. Now that the court has spoken, Buddhababu should put in his papers,” he added.
Konar said his party would see to it that an appeal was moved in a higher court against the judgement.