A video footage, showing NCC cadets in uniforms parading at the inauguration of a conference of the CPI-M's Jalpaiguri unit in West Bengal, created a flutter.
The district conference, a precursor to the CPI-M party conference next April, was attended by party state secretary Biman Bose and Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly Surya Kanta Mishra.
In the video footage it is seen that several NCC cadets, belonging to various district schools, were conducting a march-past wearing NCC uniforms and aprons upon which it was written "Red Force" with the CPI(M) party symbol embossed on it.
Initially, Mishra shrugged off the matter when asked about it, saying, "I don't see anything wrong in NCC cadets doubling as party workers. I myself have been an NCC cadet and a party worker during my school days."
But when pressed to explain how NCC cadets dressed in uniforms could parade in a party programme, he said, "I don't know they were wearing NCC uniforms. I saw aprons which they were wearing with the words "red force" written on it. I will look into the matter if they were wearing NCC uniforms and conducting march past in party program," Mishra said.
Biman Bose refused to say anything on the issue when reporters asked him to comment at Jalpaiguri.
