Buddha sees no reason to bother Mamata with NBW

KOLKATA: Chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee sees no reason why Mamata Banerjee should be bothered over the pending arrest warrant against her. It was on Tuesday that Bhattacharjee's party colleague Amitava Nandy brought the issue to the poll panel's notice. But just a day after that, the CM said, "She is busy with elections. There is no reason to bother her now." The Election Commission also felt that the main objective of execution of non-bailable warrants (NBWs) pending is to round up criminals and trouble-makers and not to inconvenience party leaders. Addressing the media on Wednesday, chief election commissioner S Y Quraishi said, "Politicians do not disturb the poll process. Criminals do. We are not looking for statistics here, the focus behind execution of these NBWs is more qualitative arrests and not quantitative." Quraishi said, "Politicalparties have made representations to us claiming harassment by the execution ofthese NBWs. I have told the DMs and SPs that political leaders should not beharassed in the name of executing NBWs." The CEC added that "the success ofBihar elections was proper identification of known trouble-makers and makingpreventive arrests." Even though Bhattacharjee and the CEC spelt outthe administration's stand, police have to furnish an execution report to theBarasat court on April 21. Legal experts said there is no scope of following amiddle path here. The report will have to mention whether the police have beenable to execute the warrant or not. And if they could not execute it, they canseek more time after furnishing suitable reasons. In such a case police can saythat there might be law and order problem if the order is executed. Else,redress can be sought in the high court. Also, when a chargesheet is filed incourt, it makes no mention if anyone is a political leader ornot.Police sources indicated it is difficult todistinguish between political leaders and hardened criminals in an eventchargesheets are filed and subsequently arrest warrants are issued by courts.Senior Trinamool Congress leader Partha Chatterjee stepped up the heat, saying, "Mamata Banerjee is at her home. Let police come and arrest her if they have the courage."