‘Political Holi with human blood’, West Bengal governor describes post-poll violence within the state

On Sunday, September 10, Indian Express printed excerpts from an unique interview with the West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose. During the interview, Governor Bose described the post-poll violence in Bengal as “political Holi with human blood”.

Governor Bose was requested about his observations on regulation and order after he visited totally different components of the state following poll-related violence and different deaths. Quoting William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, he mentioned, “Murder most foul” within the subject. Citing one other play by Shakespeare, Julius Caeser, he added, “Then, reason was ‘fled to brutish beasts and men have lost their reason’. That is what I saw. And when I saw those who justify that, I could only think, ‘they are honourable men, all honourable men’.”

Describing the bloodshed as a “political Holi”, he mentioned he has seen political hypocrisy and a “political Holi with human blood” within the subject. He identified that there are “goon kings” in West Bengal who would take any form of job together with homicide, stabbing, hacking, rape and extra. “All are there on the menu. You just pick and choose. That is the type of situation that I saw in places where I went,” he added.

Urging individuals to come back collectively towards the atrocities confronted throughout post-poll violence, he mentioned, “There is violence, there is crime, there is intimidation, and there is corruption. People should come together, and civil society and new generations should come together. The silent majority should break their silence.”

As a civil servant, Governor Bose mentioned that he felt shocked to see the smooth state towards those that indulged in violence. He mentioned, “Law is there, rule is there, machinery is there, but we are tardy in implementation.”

Governor mentioned that he noticed IAS and IPS officers defying the tenets of forms. “Some of the IPS and IAS, not all of them, have failed in their duties. He added that they are partisan and cannot instil confidence in the common man,” he added.

Governor Ananda’s go to to post-poll violence-hit areas after Panchayat polls

In July 2023, Governor Ananda assured strict motion towards the lawbreakers after the Panchayat polls within the state. He mentioned, “There will be a relentless fight against growing violence in Bengal. Those who commit violence in the field will be made to curse the day they are born. All authorities will come down with a heavy hand on the goons and lawbreakers.”

“We will certainly take stern action against the control room lords who sit in political control rooms and guide or remote control the goons on the field. It will be an all-out action. There will certainly be very stern action because this violence is affecting the future of the new generation…we will make Bengal a safer place for the new generation to live in,” he added.

Bengal has an extended historical past of political violence throughout elections. In 2021, the state noticed the identical towards the BJP staff and leaders after the meeting elections.