Suvendu’s Masterstroke Dents CPIM & TMC’s Minority Fortress

Sabina Yasmin,43, of Kaliaganj in Nadia district had moved from pillar to post for justice after a bomb hurled last year from a Trinamool Congress election victory procession snatched life away from her 10-year-old daughter Tamanna Khatun.

Despite belonging to the minority community which both Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool and Bengal’s fading Communists vow to espouse as opposed to the Bharatiya Janata Party, Sabina’s tears failed to move ‘a frigid mountain’ in the then state administration.

That Sabina’s family members were staunch supporters of the CPIM, had been touted to be the lone fault of the martyr’s mother.

Sabina Meets Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari

Early this week, Sabina summoned courage and had done what only a desperate, grieving mother could. Sabina, broken but resolute, sought audience with the new Chief Minister. She wept. She implored. And Suvendu Adhikari gave her his word — promising to stand by her and act without delay.

He kept that promise.

The response was swift, and stunning.

Within hours of that emotionally charged meeting, police machinery roared into action --- and the total number of arrests in the case climbed to 17, with 6 more apprehended in just the last few days alone, bringing a measure of long-awaited relief to a family that had endured far too much for far too long.

A grateful mother has since expressed her heartfelt thanks to a Chief Minister who, when it mattered most, chose action over assurance.

Sreelekha Mitra / Suvendu Adhikari

Praise Across the Divide

The dramatic turn in the investigation drew an unexpected voice of appreciation. A grieving mother has since expressed her heartfelt thanks to a Chief Minister who, when it mattered most, chose action over assurance.

Suvendu is often accused by both the CPIM and Trinamool as anti-Muslim though.

The chief minister’s quiet but confident measures immediately drew sharp praise from the minority quarters who were not quite happy with BJP’s maiden assumption of office in Bengal.

And by one single fell stroke, Adhikari has triggered an unexpected divide in the minority vote bank of both the CPIM and Trinamool. Many in the community have now begun to believe that all that was often alleged and blamed on BJP, might not always be true.

Praise from Tollywood Actress

Tollywood actress Sreelekha Mitra — known as an uncompromising, diehard, sharp-tongued champion of Left-leaning politics, never one to spare the ruling establishment — took to Facebook to publicly thank Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.

Her words were disarming in their candour:

"Thank you, honourable Suvendu Adhikari. This should have happened long ago. Regardless of party colour or political ideology, I have absolutely no hesitation in praising good work when I see it."

Sabina Yasmin campaigning as CPIM candidate in Kaliaganj

The Crime That Shook a Community

The story traces back to 23rd June last year, when a victory procession celebrating the Trinamool Congress win in the Kaliganj by-election turned catastrophic.

A bomb was hurled from within the marching crowd — and Tamanna Khatun's young life was torn apart in the blast. Her family filed complaints against 24 individuals.

For several months, the murder of young Tamanna, a class IV student, had kept West Bengal's political corridors in a state of restless turmoil.

Of the 24 persons accused in the Tamanna’s murder case, 14 were described as absconding, according to Kaliganj police station records. However, residents of Molandi village alleged thereafter that many of them were, in fact, moving around openly in the locality.

Residents raised serious questions about the role of the police, claiming that the authorities had deliberately winked at the process of tracing the accused.

“How is it possible that the police cannot find them, when they are roaming around in plain sight?” several residents had asked.

The villagers must have heaved a sigh of relief after 17 of the accused have now been cooling their heels behind the bar.