Neither can you call it a faux pas, nor can you ignore what he said as an off=the-cuff statement. The BJP MLA Surajit Datta – a seasoned politician and a minister in 1988-93-of course, knew what he was saying when he exhorted his party workers to ‘chase out the opposition party workers –without mercy and courtesy’. He just sounded like that of Jharna Das Baidya, former CPM MP who made almost similar statements before 2018 elections and invited massive and clear condemnations. As the adage goes, sometime tongue becomes so long for some people that it tends to hang the owner—even if the man is good- at –heart politician and yes, pro-people in true sense.
It is altogether different story that due to his personal popularity and acceptance– Datta, popularly called Sunuda – at all levels and all political parties for his typical style and open hearted demeanour as well as his pro people activities that never discriminate on political identities-that his utterings did not set the political atmopshere on fire. But , fact remains the Datta’s speech that went viral triggered serious concern in the State political circle.
Already there were nationwide reports and also court cases against the ruling BJP for ‘not allowing the opposition and also resorting to assaults on them’. And now came his speech which is brazen, blatant and in a sense crazy. No way such suggestions from a senior political leader can be accepted and tolerated in a democratic set up. In fact, he puts the entire BJP in a spot. His statement is also potentially dangerous as it might incite his followers to resort to violence.
The opposition CPM, quite expectedly, did not miss the opportunity and its secretary Jitendra Choudhury wrote a letter to the State Election Commission attaching the video of Datta’s speech. The CPM leader demanded the SEC lodge an FIR against the MLA.
“This is an open challenge to the democratic exercise of the country and this is made by none other than a longtime MLA of our state”, Jitendra Choudhury said.
“You being the Chief of the Election Administration, cannot remain calm on this speech which ultimately challenged the independent authority of the State Election Commission and ridicules your so-called endeavors for accomplishing free, fair and peaceful conduct of the election”.
This was expected, and it came. But this should be an eye opener to the BJP leadership, specially president Dr Manik Saha and Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb to rein their leaders from shooting off their mouth unnecessarily and putting the entire system in a poor light.
