West Bengal politics could take a turn for the worse with the anti-CPI(M) political space at risk of being hijacked by religious fundamentalists and right wing extremists.
Analysts fear this could dilute the post-Nandigram ire against CPM
KOLKATA: West Bengal politics could take a turn for the worse with the anti-CPI(M) political space at risk of being hijacked by religious fundamentalists and right wing extremists.
Ominous signs about this have already surfaced with some politico-religious entities clubbing an ‘out Taslima Nasrin’ campaign to protests against death of Rizwanur and Nandigram killings. Political analysts fear that infusion of fundamentalist overtones can seriously pollute the anti-CPI(M) groundswell which has been prised open by protest by civil society after the Nandigram violence let loose its party cadres recently.
Supporters of some religious organisations hit the streets last Friday in large numbers protesting Rizwanur’s death and Nandigram, and also demanded immediate ouster of Taslima Nasrin from the country. Among the protestors were a large number of members of the Jamat-e-Ulema-I Hind, a member of the Bhumi Uchhed Pratirodh Committee.
“I personally feel that Nandigram is a much bigger, human and secular issue which has a political impact and also a social one as is evident from reaction of civil society,” said Saugata Roy, Trinamul Congress MLA, adding that, “Jamait-e-Ulema-I-Hind is basically a religious organisation that is chiefly supported by the madrasas. Although they are part of BUPC in Nandigram, Trinamul does not yet have a political alliance with it. The Taslima protests should not be mixed with Nandigram.”
Siddikulla Chowdhury, state secretary, Jamait however clarified that, “All we are saying is that the state and union governments should ask Taslima to control her anti-Islamic writings. She does not fit into the secular character of West Bengal. But we have never called for any physical harm to her.”
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