TMC unleashed reign of terror: Chandan Mitra

KOLKATA: Veteran journalist Chandan Mitra, who is contesting the Lok Sabha polls on a BJP ticket from Hooghly, feels that only posting police observers in each constituency will not be sufficient to put a brake on the "state government-sponsored violence".
Mitra, who is the Rajya Sabha member of BJP since 2003 and is contesting the LS polls for the first time, accused the ruling party of resorting to terror tactics in his constituency.He demanded that paramilitary forces should be deployed in every constituency in order to ensure free and fair polls.
"The ruling party has unleashed a reign of terror in which have been reclusive in large part of my constituency. Though it is not something which should be my concern, at Dhaniakhali even the CPIM has not been able to open an office. They were driven out. If the CPM can't enter the area then it is even more difficult for others. Now they are targeting us. Our boys are being threatened. The young supporters who are taking part in campaigning, their family are scared for their life," Mitra said.
He added, "a sense of fear is looming large in Dahniakhali. It is already a disturbed area. TMC has established a hegemony there including adjoining areas like Polba."
Mitra feared that Trinamool activists would capture booths from early morning on April 30 when Hooghly goes to polls. He said that there should be proper assessment of the situation first before the deployment of forces. "I am demanding paramilitary forces who should come, make assessment and then deploy forces."
Though Mitra said that he is yet to know about the views of state BJP leaders regarding deployment of paramilitary forces, he said, "I have made my views clear to BJP state president Rahul Sinha and consulted him on the points which I have decided to make before you. We will be outnumbered in comparison to the arms and ammunitions or even the supporters. But I am making the appeal so that our demands reach the centre and some remedial measures are taken by them."
Criticizing the incident of popular singer and BJP candidate Babul Supriyo getting heckled during campaign, Mitra said that the ruling party is intentionally targeting popular candidates. "They are unleashing both physical and verbal assault on the opposition It shows that they can stoop down to any level," the LS candidate said. Mitra predicted an increase in the BJP vote bank and considerable vote swing in favour of BJP. "But the ruling party is resorting to terror tactics as they are forcefully removing flex, flags and posters. I have even complained to the EC who have assured me to look into the matter