‘All these separatist forces have one mission — dividing Bengal’

In the upcoming panchayat polls, the Opposition has alleged that CPM cadres will be recruited as Home Guards and deployed for election duty...
This is not the first time that such allegations have cropped up. Earlier, they (the Opposition) had said that CPM workers were posted as policemen and deployed forces from other states. Next time, they might not only say that the voters were CPM supporters but also suggest many were brought in from other states.

There are rampant allegations that candidates filing nominations against CPM candidates have been threatened. Some of them have even been forced to withdraw their nominations.
We cannot supply candidates. All we can ensure is that the candidates, who want security, receive it. But they have to specifically ask the government for security. As far as threats to candidates are concerned, the State Election Commission has not received any such complaint till date.

The last Assembly elections were held in five phases, which you opposed. This year, the panchayat elections are being held in three phases. The state government has even asked for armed forces. Has the situation in the state deteriorated?
We cannot conduct elections in one day — even three days are not enough. Unlike the Election Commission, we could not arrange for adequate forces for the panchayat elections. There are outfits from Jharkhand and its adjoining areas, which attack our districts, police stations. There are separatist forces active in North Bengal like the Kampatpuris and the Greater Cooch Behar People’s Party. Unfortunately, there are times when our Opposition has joined them. We want peaceful polls and therefore, do not want to take any risks.

Recently, RSP leader Kshiti Goswami alleged that dissident CPM workers are turning into deadly Maoist cadres and launching attacks on CPM workers. What’s your take on that?
All these separatist forces have one mission — dividing Bengal. They have always targeted the CPM. I am proud of those who have sacrificed their lives in such attacks.

There are allegations of misappropriations and malpractices in the panchayat system. Can you say how many cases have been registered and how much amount was involved in such malpractices?
I cannot exactly specify the total amount involved. But 37 FIRs have been lodged in these cases. The volume of malpractice could be assessed only after the framing of the chargesheets.

What is your prediction regarding CPM’s chances in this panchayat election compared to the last one?
There will be an improvement.

West Bengal has been termed as a worse, if not the worst performer in implementing the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. It could provide only 25 days of work. Can you explain this poor track record?
We have given job cards to all who have asked for it. A large number of people have got jobs. We do not give much importance to averages. I know of states, which have not issued cards to all job seekers. Naturally, in the progress report, their rank will go up. Moreover, the Centre cannot shirk responsibility. It could not release fund on time to the districts, which needed it the most. For West Bengal, the Centre cannot propose jobs, which are more suited for Rajasthan and Gujarat as they have plenty of waste land. Here, people get the opportunity to work mainly from November to mid-June — the post-harvest season. Therefore, the Centre failed to release funds at a time when there was work for the people. The scheme requires every state to come up with its own proposal. But they won’t accept ours.

Both the Forward Bloc and the RSP — partners of the CPM in the Left Front have alleged corruption in the BPL list and the failure of NREGS in the state.
I have no knowledge. I don’t know what they said.

Is there any plan to relax the rural land ceiling for big industrial and infrastructure projects?
The relaxation is nothing new and had existed in the Land Reforms Act. I cannot say more because it is an Assembly subject.