A Facebook post written by Russel Aziz, son of Md Salim, CPM politburo member and MP from Raigunj constituency of Uttar Dinajpur district in West Bengal led to “confusion and tension” on the day panchayat elections were held in the state amidst reports of violence and clashes throughout the day.
Aziz had written on his Facebook page that two persons – a presiding officer and a polling officer had been killed in Uttar Dinajpur district by Trinamool goons. He mentioned in the post that this information was “unverified”. Aziz posted this in the afternoon and a number of people shared it on social media leading to confusion and tension in Raigunj. Md Salim had told The Bengal Story on May 14, “Those who have ruined democracy on the day of election should not make a mountain out of a molehill.”
Later, the state’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) started a case against Russel Aziz and he was called to the CID’s office in Kolkata’s Bhawani Bhawan on Monday for questioning.
Excerpts of an interview of Md Salim with The Bengal Story today:
Q: There’s a lot of controversy on the Facebook post written by your son, Russel. What is your reaction?
A: This government has been targetting my family from the very beginning [2011]. The people in West Bengal know this. But those targeting us could not do anything. Now, they have targeted my son. Russel had written the Facebook post from my laptop on the day of the panchayat election. If they have courage, why don’t they call and interrogate me instead?
Q: Are you trying to say that you are the real target? Not your son, Russel?A: Certainly! The Lok Sabha elections will take place next year. I am a Member of Parliament. The main target is the Raigunj Lok Sabha seat. A presiding officer was murdered in Raigunj on the day of the panchayat elections. Everyone knows this. Not just in Raigunj, people all over the state are protesting it. But false cases are being slapped against those who have protested this in Raigunj. When ordinary people are being harassed for speaking up against the government, Russel has only been summoned by the police. I am not afraid of all this. I reiterate, if the government has the courage, let CID call me for interrogation. We are prepared to fight it out in the highest court.
Q: According to those in the administration, the Facebook post led to unrest in the area on the day of panchayat election…
A: The purpose of the government is to bully the dissenting voices, so that they give in. Neither am I scared, nor am I giving in to these threatening tactics. If required, I am ready to fight it out till the very end, right up to the Supreme Court of India.