Alleging that democracy has been "raped" during the panchayat polls in West Bengal, CPI(M) leader Gautam Deb today said the Mamata Banerjee-led government was inviting President's rule as the democratic rights of the people and law and order were being violated.
"We have seen rampant violence during the panchayat elections. Democracy has been raped during the panchayat polls. People are not being allowed to exercise their democratic rights. Already a few people have died in violence. Nobody knows how many more will die in last three phases," Deb said.
Slamming the government over the alleged attack on Union minister of State Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury in Malda district, Deb said, "A union minister is being attacked. From this the situation can be gauged. If this situation prevails then Mamata Banerjee is inviting President's rule in the state."
Deb said that, however, his party was against President's rule and wanted Banerjee to complete her full term.
Deb, a central committee member of CPI(M) and former minister, said that he had decided to prepare 10,000 party volunteers to hold protests if any violence was reported during the third phase of the polls in North 24 Parganas district.
"We can't sit idle when violence is taking place. So we have decided to engage 10,000 volunteers, who will hold protests at important places in North 24 Parganas district," said Deb, who is a party district secretary of North 24 Parganas.
"As soon as our volunteers receive report of violence in the villages of the district, they will organise road blockades and hold demonstrations in the district," he said.
The third phase of panchayat polls will be held on July 19 in North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas and Howrah districts.
He also said that the party MPs in New Delhi were holding talks with the Centre to convince it to change the operating manual of Central forces.
Meanwhile, Deb's threat of protests was ridiculed by the ruling Trinamool Congress.
"He is talking of blockades. First let him sit at the entrance of Bhavani Bhavan (CID headquarters). He frequently talks of mobilising 30,000 people, but he doesn't have even 30 people with him," Transport minister Madan Mitra said.
Mitra was referring to Deb being summoned by the CID in a case of alleged financial irregularities in the Housing Board during his tenure.
