Both the Lok Sabha constituencies in Malda, north and south, are held by the Congress. Although Kaliachak falls in North Malda constituency, Ushinor Majumdar managed to catch up with South Malda MP Mausam Benazir Noor (36) to get her perspective on the situation.
How do you view the violence in Kaliachak?
It was an alarming incident but has been given a communal colour to divert attention from criminals. If it were communal, why were documents in the police station destroyed? These criminals were earlier with the CPI(M) and now with Trinamool. I would like to mention Asadullah Biswas, under whom criminal syndicates operate in Malda. There are regular murders. Another former CPI(M) leader, Haji Ketabuddin of the TMC, lost associates who were making bombs. These groups also use violence to stop voters during polls. Since they work for TMC, the state government cannot act against them.
Has Malda turned into a communal cauldron?
There is a law and order problem in Kaliachak, especially in the border areas. The state and Centre need to make a concerted effort to tackle it. It was never this bad during the CPI(M) regime. Under TMC, it’s getting worse quickly.
Is there any threat to Hindus from Islamic fundamentalism?
That’s not true in either Malda or the rest of West Bengal. But the atmosphere in the country has become unstable due to incidents since the BJP came to power. It was a communal vote that elected the BJP; that has created a ripple effect even in a place like Malda.
You were said to be against any Congress-Left alliance, but speculation is rife about it. Will an alliance work?
To oust Trinamool from power, we have to come together in a grand alliance. Ideologically, we have fought the CPI(M) for 34 years; now we are fighting the TMC. Obviously, if party workers are asked to participate in an alliance with the CPI(M), some will have a problem. It depends on how the alliance pans out. In north Bengal, we are stronger but the situation is different elsewhere. Congress should not have to compromise on too many of its seats.
