The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has indicted the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government for the “gross apathy” it showed in containing the mob violence following the huge electoral success of the ruling Trinamool Congress after the May assembly polls. An NHRC panel that enquired into the series of incidents across districts has reported to the Calcutta High Court that there were grievous offences like murder and rape; and that this called for a detailed CBI probe to fix responsibility. What it meant was that the present state police probe will not help in fixing the guilty.
The violence in several parts of the state could not have taken place on such a massive scale had there been no planning at the apex. Allegations were that the ruling party and chief minister Mamata Banerjee who headed it had created the conditions for these violent incidents to teach the rival BJP a lesson. This was for the aggressive manner in which the saffron leadership including Prime Minister Narendra Modi campaigned against the CM and her party. The NHRC panel stated that there was no rule of law but only “law of the ruler.” In fact, the post-poll situation in West Bengal was similar to the 2002 Gujarat Riots, but less in intensity of course, and then CM Modi had been accused of complicity. Even though this might have a grain of truth, nothing can be proven in court. Just as Modi could not face any retribution or indictment from court, Banerjee too is bound to have an easy escape. The systems in the country are progressively losing their teeth.
At the same time, the Banerjee establishment has dismissed the charges against it and said all the allegations were politically motivated. This is the standard style response from politicians across the spectrum. Yet, what should not go unnoticed is the hurt that is caused to reputations of Constitutional mechanisms like NHRC and the National Commission for Women over time. No one is convinced that such institutions formed to help the weaker sections do any great work. In part at least, they are there for the show. They beat around the bush. They act as adjuncts for the ruling political establishment whether at the central or state level. The appointments of heads of these entities are politically-guided. Little wonder that they dance to the tunes of the establishment. This could happen in respect of the West Bengal-level State Commissions too. As a result, the trust deficit against the ruling establishment is growing.
