21st July 1993

21^st July 1993 is remembered as a black day in West Bengal, the day on which 13 people were shot dead by Kolkata Police. Though later we came to know that 12 people died and 1 died later due to other illness. The day on which Writers’ Abhijan was organized by Youth Congress. Mamata Banerjee was the president of the youth wing of Indian National Congress – Youth Congress. Before going to the incident of 21^st July 1993, we must have an insight what lead to it.

The 14-year-old communist government won a massive mandate in 1991, but with Ms Banerjee becoming the President of Youth Congress a new wave of protest began against, what many believed and Ms Banerjee called, ‘Scientific Rigging’ employed by the ruling party for such mandate. Youth Congress president attacked the communist government with her crowd pulling ability. On October 1992, she organized a massive rally at Brigade Parade Ground and struck “Death Bell” to oust the Communist regime from Bengal. On December 1992, Ms Banerjee took a physically challenged Girl Felani Basak, who was allegedly raped by CPI(M) cadres, to the Writers' Building to the then Chief Minister Jyoti Basu but was harassed and allegedly molested by the police before being arrested and released from detention in midnight, this attracted universal outrage. Finally Ms Banerjee along with Pankaj Banerjee and Madan Mitra decided to march to Writers’ Building to appeal Photo Voter ID cards to be made mandatory for free and fair poll.

21^st July 1993, it was planned that the supporters would move towards Writers’ Building from different directions and lay a siege on the state secretariat, which the then CM Jyoti Basu already announced that he will not allow. But rallies from different directions – Brabourne Road, BB Ganguly Street, Mission Row, Mayo Road, etc. started moving towards Writers’ Building.  Rally from Brabourne Road was stopped at Tea Board as police cordoned that area. Crowd tried to break the cordon, which triggered lathi-charge from police and stone pelting from crowd, police burst tear gas shell. The crowd which was approaching from Mayo Road, where gathering is prohibited under section 144, was stopped at Mayo Road-Red Road crossing. Scuffle with police started. Crowd resorted to stone-pelting which was retaliated by lathi-charge. The crowd started running across Curzon Park and the Police-crowd battle spread across. Afraid that they would be outnumbered, policemen opened fire. 13 people died. Ms Banerjee was also beaten up near Tea Board. A person needs special mention here as reader should know, Mr Manish Gupta, was Home Secretary of West Bengal on 21^st July 1993.

Ms Banerjee, a politician suited always in opposition, knew very well how to pull crowd. She broke away from Indian National Congress (INC) and formed Trinamool Congress on 1^st January 1998. Her reason for leaving INC is a different story and we won’t discuss it here. But she knew exactly which activity will help her to break INC workers and supporters away from INC and bring them along with her to TMC. She was never bothered about Felani Basak, remember the physically challenged girl raped by CPI(M) cadre, whom Ms Banerjee took to Writers’ Building, but she chose 21^st July 1993 instead and hijacked the issue from INC. She named it Martyr’s Day and started organizing meeting every year on that day. She promised that she will enquire about the people who were involved in 21^st July 1993 firing and punish them if she becomes Chief Minister of West Bengal.

After winning West Bengal Legislative Assembly 2011 with overwhelming majority, she had to keep her words. As promised she formed One-man Commission of Justice (Retd) Sushanta Chatterjee to probe 21^st July 1993 incident. Fact findings commission not judicial commission. Commission submitted its report on 29^th December 2014 after enquiring 300 plus witness over 3.5 years.

Justice (Retd) Sushanta Chatterjee read out portions of the over 700-page report, which he made public before submitting it to the state government, which is as given below:

·         There was no necessity to resort to firing that caused the death of 13 persons

·         Without mentioning any individual name, the officials in the Home department and police officials of Control Room (Kolkata Police) failed to discharge their duties in saving lives guaranteed by the Constitution and in protecting the right to demonstrate peacefully.

·         Collective responsibility lies with the state and police administration, they had overacted to please their political bosses. The firing could have been avoided.

·         Firing had happened on orders from control room and by trigger-happy additional forces sent by it.

·         This incident was much worse than what happened in Jallianwala Bagh.

·         Seventy-five rounds of bullets were fired by the police in the incident on 21 July 1993.(but Ms Banerjee claimed earlier three hundred rounds)

·         A compensation of Rs 25 lakhs to the families of each of those killed.

·         A compensation of Rs 5 lakhs each to those who were injured in the police action.

Jallianwala Bagh!! But Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer not found!!

So what commission did for last 3.5 years? OR Commission trying to save someone?

Now we would like you to recollect a name which we specially mentioned above while describing the 21^st July 1993 incident, Mr Manish Gupta. Gupta who happened to be the Home Secretary of West Bengal Government on 21^st July 1993 is the same person who happens to be present Minister of Power in Mamata Banerjee’s cabinet. Can anyone tell how policemen can fire without getting a nod from Home Secretary? Even Mamata appointed Justice felt shocked to hear that Home Secretary didn’t know about firing. He said History will say “How”.We say say History will say “Why” commission was formed?

Does this government really have the intention to punish crooks? We have seen the fate of another such commission earlier, Justice Shyamal Sen Commission. Justice Chatterjee was lucky enough that he could submit his report to government whereas Justice Sen couldn’t find anyone to submit his report! What is fun in making such commission and spending from government exchequer when the crooks will not be taken to task? Are these commissions or colloquium?

Now this Justice Chatterjee Commission which incurred so much expenditure over last 3.5 years added salt to the wound to Government Exchequer by recommending Rs 25 lakhs to kin of deceased and Rs 5 lakhs compensation to person who were injured on 21^st July 1993. We are pretty sure Prof Amibekesh Mahaptra and farmer Shiladitya will not get compensation as recommended by West Bengal Human Rights Commission but these 13 families will get Rs 25 Lakhs each. We have found Power Minister of TMC & the then Home Secretary has kept in power board the accused Ex-Police office in Shardha case,despite of officer staying in Jail for 4 months. Does he intend to give compensation from Shardha? State Government is already under huge loan & not giving DA to government staff.

We condemn the act of shoot out by policemen and we really want to know who instructed the policemen to fire. Along with that we would like to raise few other questions, whether taking the state secretariat under control by opposition political party constitutional? Lastly why compensation of Rs 25 lakhs and Rs 5 Lakhs will be paid for anti-government activity from government exchequer? 

Finally Announce Punishment for General Dyer of 21st July.......Mr.Manish Gupta