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As investment vanishes in West Bengal, political workers resort to violence for spoils

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People in West Bengal are polarised on the lines of political affiliations and identities.

West Bengal is providing almost a daily staple of violent incidents these days.

The body of a BJP supporter was found hanging from a tree in remote Purulia village; a bomb killed a 7-year old child in a Kolkata suburb; an irate mob of parents attacked a school after a teacher was accused of sexually assaulting a child. Last month, two people were killed in clashes that broke out over appointment of Urdu language teachers at an Islampur school.

The image portrayed is one of West Bengal as a hotbed of violence. In the widespread violence during, before and after the panchayat elections held in May, more than 24 political workers died and hundreds were injured.

Of the total seats in gram panchayat, panchayat samiti and zila parishad, about 34 per cent remained uncontested because armed Trinamool Congress (TMC) activists allegedly restricted opposition candidates from filing their nomination papers. After the poll, TMC factions reportedly fought among themselves for control of the panchayat posts.


Also read: Amit Shah set for Purulia visit in bid to bolster Bengal outreach after BJP workers’ deaths


A complex history

Unlike other states where caste and communal politics often define the nature of violence, West Bengal has predominantly witnessed party violence over the last several decades. People in the state are polarised on the lines of political affiliations and identities. Once a violent incident gets a political colour, it gets wider coverage in the media and is etched in collective memory.

Bengal violence has a complex history, which cannot be explained using a simple binary of ruling party versus the opposition alone. Political violence in West Bengal is tied to the start of the Naxalite movement in 1967. The 1971 India-Pakistan war added a new dimension to that and hundreds of sophisticated small weapons were smuggled across the border into West Bengal that reportedly armed both the underworld and the political parties.

The Left in its heyday is known to have often resorted to violence to subdue the opposition. But it wasn’t a one-sided affair and opposition too (read Congress) resorted to similar tactics. It is common knowledge that both parties had armed goons in their ranks. It is equally well known that after the TMC came to power in 2011, the balance titled in its favour.

First the goons, then the party workers were seen to be leaving the Left and the Congress to join the TMC. As the Left and the Congress weakened, attacks on them reportedly reduced. The turf war now shifted to TMC vs BJP in districts like Paschim Medinipur, Purulia, Birbhum and some parts of North Bengal.

Unemployed youth aligned with the ruling party in both urban and rural areas hoping to get some jobs. The party came to be defined by old and new TMC, often clashing violently over the issue of extorting and extracting money from state-funded projects.


Also read: Purulia killings: RSS-BJP workers under threat in Mamata’s West Bengal or is it orchestrated panic?


The battlefield

Warring political parties in Bengal often end up attacking opponents’ offices and houses. Roopa Ganguly, BJP MP in Rajya Sabha, was allegedly attacked by TMC workers in South-24 Parganas in May 2016. Roopa was returning to Kolkata after meeting some ‘poll-violence’ victims in Kakdwip.

Both the CPM and the BJP are now taking out processions to protest against what they call “ruling party-sponsored violence”. Often, they separately approach the Governor to apprise him of the ground reality in the state. The BJP-ruled Centre through the home ministry, at times, seeks report from the West Bengal government over violence in the state.

Most of these incidents of party violence fall into the following categories: extortion by musclemen of real estate syndicates, illegal coal mining in Raniganj-Asansol industrial belt, and illegal sand mining from river beds. These are the classic cases of war over the resources.


Also read: West Bengal is no longer difficult for the BJP to rise in


The bigger problem

In the absence of major investment in industrial sector in the last 10 years, employment generation has been dismal in formal sectors in the state. There has been a steady migration of unskilled and semi-skilled rural workers to Kerala and other southern states.

Even a legal activity like working in an elected panchayat committee is not free from violence. People with political patronage are clamouring to lay their hands on central government welfare funds.

In an effort to offset the problem of unemployment and low industrial activity, the state has been spending a lot on building roads, new colleges, universities and hospitals in remote areas. To keep the unemployed youth somewhat engaged, the state government started giving annual cash dole of Rs 1-2 lakh to more than 12,000 clubs.

The welfare spending in West Bengal has now become a hunting ground for contesting groups with political patronage to get a piece of the cake. For almost every construction project, a percentage of the estimated cost is reportedly set aside for the local leaders and the underlings of the ruling party – even if the builder has affiliation with the party.

This business of extracting ‘levy’ on the little economic activity in the locality is also leading to clashes within various factions of the ruling party.

There seems to be no end in sight to this vicious circle of political violence in West Bengal.

The author is a journalist and political analyst.

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23 COMMENTS

  1. I think this article has been written with a political agenda. This is really irresponsible journalism. Violence is on the rise throughout the country, and not just in West Bengal which can be primarily attributed to the oppurtunistic indifference of the Government at the Centre which is leading to radicalisation of the youth. Despite all this, Bengal remains somewhat stable. Kolkata remains the 3rd largest economy (city wise) despite proclaimations to doom. West Bengal is still one of the better economies despite the stagnation with good records in human development indices. Such biased writing only allows me to think that the editors are not independent and mere stooges of some sinster men and women.

  2. The business of local levy is present in every state the difference is in other state It is in higher level and in westbengal it is in ground level.We bengalies are more critical of ourselves unlike others.But BJP in our state is more violent as per the direction of highest authorities just to ruin the Image of bengal.They will definitely not do any good for bengal or bengali es.

  3. Very correct analysis about the economic & political condition of W.B
    But the author has forgotten that large number of people from Bangladesh has made the situation worse. Again the fall of jute & paper industry & the absence of moodern industry like information technology have aggravated the employment opportunity.

  4. The author would surely prefer communal violence than political violence or may be a few murders by Gau Rakshaks. And wonder what is his qualifications to claim himself as a political analyst. Because ‘vanishing’ investment is pretty funny term, cause it vanished during the left rule and now the graph is flat if not upward…
    One wonders if these type of ‘political analysts’ have any morality or whatever….

  5. Bangal ka economy dekhna hai to wahan ke har bade station pe ja kar dekh Lena….train bhar bhar ke south , west aur north State ja rahe hain dihadi ke liye….jab baampanthion Ko samajh aaya industry ke baare mein to madam ne Aisa adanga Dala satta mein aane ke liye ke industry Ko wapas Jana pada….banagla ka focus Abhi Secularism aur tustikaran hai.

  6. The present scenario of West Bengal has been summed up very well by the author. The state lacks a coherent industrial policy. Hence, industrial investment elude the state. The educated youth are leaving the state in droves for Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune etc. in search of employment and even for higher education. Doles are handed out to clubs and puja committees to appease the unemployed youth. Political violence is at an all time high. Overall, there is a overwhelming picture of lawlessness. The future of the state does appear bleak indeed.

  7. Listen to Amartya Sen who has developed the model of HDI and GDP on which the whole world’s socio-economical status of any region can be reflected through normalized numbers. According to Mr Amartya Sen, the economic growth is significantly lower in BJP era than the growth rates of Congress era. It may so happen in future that the economical growth stops or even worse. Support a party that has leaders who has promising knowledge and calibar to improve the situation. An illeterate ‘chaiwala’ should not lead world’s 6th largest GDP. Mr ‘chaiwala’ has done nothing except playing with poor & middle class minds with religious sentiment. The only option left for bengalis is TMC party govt which has generated highest no of govt jobs than any other state govts.

  8. Super politically biased article to fulfil own interests. Dishonest trial to connect different incidents through false factor… Investment throughout world is facing a typical slow phase.. That is not a factor of this type unrest in people..

    Stop paid journalism and carry on with unbiased nature.. You will must find what is happening in West bengal that is not distinguished fact but a political effort to introduce turmoil in every sphere of life in bengal. Sponsored criminal and vindictive leaders(manager )are tactically water this unrest.

  9. The situation is far worse than perceived…. clashes and political extortion have become a norm in bengal….even candidates qualified through proper exams for clerical govt jobs giving a salary of 8000 pm have to pay aroung 7 lacs for job confirmation……thats the true face of west bengsl right now.

  10. Sir,
    With due respect to your own self ascertained assessment on West Bengal I would request you to kindly make out a comparative statement reflecting there in the political & other social disturbances / women humiliation and it would reveal the true picture of more accute / worst situation in some of the states and I refrain from naming the states which is best known to you
    I also say that it is not desirable to have those issues which mainly affects the public in general and ultimate gain by political parties

  11. Mr. Rajat Roy has described the bare truth of Bengal’s ruinuos activity by people having political patronage . They surely resort to violence of eliminations in nature. It started by Jyoti Basu’s Govt which was well protected & supported by Congress. Lresent CM is more obstinate & stuborn who never cares for any fatal violence . Do anyone noticed that since 2014 to till date of Oct 2018 any Bomb Blast ( of serios & greater intensity ) but it is regularly happening & a regular Industry is developed & flourishing possibly with Govt support . One cannot alter or renovate one’s house thogh valid permit issued by Municipal authority. Why can’t they do the work ? B’coz of massive extortion by local Netas ( Extornist ) demands hefty amount or get Bullet in the head. This is & many other burning issues are making the shaping of Industrial hub of our golden days . No Industrialist will put money in the state.

  12. It’s a political motivated story and bjp is trying to same game plan like Tripura by using money but it’s bengal we will not allowed this kind of activity.

  13. Too simplified analysis. Present day crisis is result of neglect of Governments in power at centre in terms of investment in the state since independence and finally destruction of all industries sponsored by local inhabitants by 34 yrs of Marxsist rule.

  14. I am quite agree with author regarding the way state government handling the young generation, Government wants to create bunch of financially handicapped half educated young lads motivated them towords holding the party flag high & be part of Syndicate ???? without bothered about industrialisation and independent jobs even state government is enable to create job in government sector where people have to pay higher amount without having any merit to get a jobs so its high time we people must
    wake up before it’s too late,

  15. If we don’t take care, other states will head in the same direction. This new found love for religion is not making us more humane or spiritual, merely more violent, distracting us from the imperatives of economic development.

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