TMC terrorising, threatening, even luring CPI-M workers: Yechury

Kolkata: CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury on Thursday said the Trinamool Congress was "pressurising", "threatening", "terrorising" and even trying to lure a section of CPI-M workers, and did not rule out a "tacit understanding" between some of his party cadres and the ruling party. Addressing the media after a two-day extended state committee meeting of the party, Yechury said the Trinamool had been targeting Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) workers in a "desperate attempt" to wrest control of local bodies where the ruling party did not have a majority. Asked whether there was a "tacit understanding" between a section of CPI-M workers and the Trinamool, as reportedly alleged by state party secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra in a party forum, Yechury said: "There are reports, there are allegations and charges. There is a tremendous amount of pressure, threat, terror, corruption and intimidation. It is a lethal combination. So through these methods they (the Trinamool) are trying to lure several comrades." Yechury said though communists were made of better steel, "there could be few people; I am not ruling it out". He accused the Trinamool Congress of using terror tactics and threatening the CPI-M workers of letting loose the police against them. "They are even trying to lure them away with monetary benefits. This is being done in order to capture local bodies where Trinamool doesn't have a majority." Yechury said such tactics by a ruling party were unprecedented in the state. The state committee deliberated on ways and means to get over the organisational weaknesses and prevent defections from the party ranks. But he exuded confidence that the CPI-M would bounce back.