WB Guv meets Prez, PM; says people's safety has to be ensured

West Bengal Governor M K Narayanan today met the President and the Prime Minister and briefed them about the law and order situation in the state which has witnessed a spate of violence during the ongoing panchayat polls.

'Many CRPF personnel are to be deployed. ... I hope they are deployed. It is important to ensure safety and security of people participating in the (panchayat) elections so that they give certain sense of confidence. I am hoping that they have been deployed,' he told reporters here.

His comments came on a day when the state witnessed sporadic violence during the third phase of panchayat election, with the opposition CPI(M) alleging that people were stopped from voting in several areas of East Midnapore

Narayanan was speaking after he met President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Later, he had a meeting with Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde at the latter's official residence here.

There has been a spate of violent incidents in the run-up to the panchayat polls, including killings and ransacking of houses of opposition activists and party offices.

Senior leaders of the ruling Trinamool Congress, including MPs, have also allegedly been caught on tape indulging in rabble-rousing against political opponents.

The Governor parried questions on his discussions with Shinde, just saying that the Union Home Ministry had provided the central forces.

'It is for the state government to help the State Election Commission to maintain law and order,' Narayanan said.