The Hindu : Joshi for postponing Bengal panchayat polls

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 15, 2003

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Joshi for postponing Bengal panchayat polls

By Our Special Correspondent

KOLKATA APRIL 14. The Union Human Resources Development Minister, Murli Manohar Joshi, today said that the panchayat elections in West Bengal slated for May 11 should be postponed in view of the "terrorism unleashed by the State's Communist Government".

"The CPI(M) is not allowing opposition candidates to file nominations. The State Election Commission is a helpless spectator. So, our party demands postponement of the panchayat polls," he said.

Addressing presspersons, Mr. Joshi said the polls should be put off till a conducive atmosphere for holding free and fair elections was created. He would urge the Human Rights Commission to suggest steps to stop "encroachment of civil rights" of the people.

The Trinamool Congress chairperson, Mamata Banerjee, met Mr. Joshi and submitted a memorandum on "State-sponsored terrorism in Bengal".

To a question on whether he supported Ms. Banerjee's demand for imposition of President's rule in Bengal, Mr. Joshi said: "the first step is postponement of the panchayat polls."

It was the duty of the State Election Commission to create a conducive atmosphere for holding a free and fair poll. ``We will see whether the State Election Commissioner takes an independent view of the situation,'' he said.

Mr. Joshi said he doubted the Chief Minister, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's sincerity in ensuring that Opposition candidates filed their nominations peacefully.

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Joshi for postponing Bengal panchayat polls