Asok criticises state for Siliguri arrest spree

SNS,Siliguri, 13 September 2013: The former state urban development minister and senior CPI-M leader, Mr Asok Bhattacharya, has slammed the state government for arresting the businessmen in Darjeeling. 

Mr Bhattacharya apprehended that it might create fear psychosis among the traders in Siliguri also. After the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) activists, police have now started arresting the businessmen of a particular community. It has created fear psychosis among the traders in Siliguri. 

The traders are also apprehending that they might be arrested. The situation has reminded the time of Emergency," Mr Bhattacharya said in Siliguri today. Notably, Darjeeling police arrested the Darjeeling Chamber of Commerce president Mr B M Garg for his alleged role in the arson of a forest bungalow, the chamber press and publicity secretary Mr Himangshu Garg on 11 September. 

Police yesterday arrested another businessman Mr Nand Kishore Agarwal for allegedly diverting food grains meant for the Public Distribution System (PDS) from his depot to the GJMM. When asked, it has been said that Mr Garg has been the 'financier' of the GJMM, Mr Bhattacharya said it was nothing illegal. 

“If the businessman finances the GJMM, it is nothing illegal. The party is not a banned outfit. Many businessmen also finance the Trinamul Congress. But the government is misusing its power. The Trinamul Congress is terrorising and putting pressure on the traders to join the Trinamul," he added. 

Reacting to this, the north Bengal development minister Mr Gautam Deb, said the businessmen used to finance the CPI-M during the tenure of the previous Left Front government. 

“However, such practice has been stopped after the change of guard in the state. I want to know whether the businessmen said to the CPI-M leadership that they are scared. If the businessmen do their jobs with honesty then they should not worry,” said Mr Deb.