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PDCI to block road, rail traffic in protest against political violence

Kolkata: The Jamiat-Ulema-i-Hind–backed People's Democratic Conference of India (PDCI) leadership announced here on Monday that it will hold an hour-long road and rail blockade across West Bengal this Wednesday as a mark of protest against the regular violence and bloodshed allegedly perpetrated by the major political parties.

A former ally of the Trinamool Congress from its Singur anti-land acquisition movement days, the PDCI has currently entered into a partnership with the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee for the forthcoming State Assembly elections.

Accusing both the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Trinamool Congress of indulging in violence and blaming each other in an attempt to veil their wrongdoings, PDCI chairman Siddiqullah Chowdhury said that the “token blockade” will be a “message to the people of the State to raise their voices against the attempted demolition of democracy and principled politics”.

Asserting that the blockade will be non-violent in nature, Mr. Chowdhury requested the Police Department not to “create any unnecessary untoward situation” and said that PDCI supporters will court arrest peacefully if required.

“I am also appealing to religious bodies of all communities, sections of all political parties who believe in non-violence and every responsible citizen to support and join us in the blockade,” he said at a press conference.

On being pointed that its erstwhile partner Trinamool Congress is against holding blockades and bandhs as part of any political movement, Mr. Chowdhury retorted: “We have not yet forgotten how much financial loss the Trinamool Congress had caused when they had staged a dharna at Singur on the national highway for 15 days. I will request the peace-loving sections of both the Trinamool Congress and the CPI (M) to cooperate with us.”

He said the Railway authorities must pay the farmers compensation at the rate of the estimated land price 20 years hence in addition to employment while acquiring land for railway projects. Mr. Chowdhury also alleged that leaders of “every other political party” were involved in land acquisition and allotment process in Rajarhat area located on the city's fringes.

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