Biman Basu advises Mamata Banerjee to 'behave like a Chief Minister'

Kolkata, Nov  : The Opposition Left Front today advised Ms Mamata Banerjee to 'behave like a Chief Minister' as controversy continued to rage over her intervention after Sunday's clash between police and a group of local youths at Bhowanipore.

"She can visit any police station...she is the Chief Minister and Home Minister," Left Front Chairman Biman Basu said.

"But the issue is that she went there to get two of the arrested youths, who are her party activists,released. The incident is unprecedented and unfortunate. This is definitely unbecoming of a Chief Minister," Mr Basu told reporters.

The arrested youths were in the procession taken out for the immersion of the image of Goddess Jagadhatri. They had been arrested following a clash with police after they had been asked to stop bursting firecrackers and using loudspeakers.

Mr Basu said the Chief Minister could have talked to the top police officers but not go to a police station to release the activists. "This is not good for the fame and name of Bengal. When you become Chief Minister, you have to behave like a Chief Minister," he said.

According to the police, the processionists pelted stones, ransacked the Bhowanipore police station and even tried to set ablaze police vehicles. Police resorted to lathicharge, which resulted in a worse situation.

The area where trouble brke out in south Kolkata is the constituency from where Ms Banerjee got elected to the state Assembly. The Chief Minister's residence is also near the Bhowanipore police station.
--UNI