Abusive CPI-M leader Anil Basu spurs outrage

Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Anil Basu triggered a statewide outrage on Saturday after he verbally abused Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee at an election rally.

A six-phase election is underway in West Bengal for its 294-seat Assembly in a closely watched showdown where the ruling communists led by the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) are facing the most difficult poll battle of its tenure since 1977.

Canvassing for votes, the senior communist leader, apparently went too far as he tried to corner Banerjee for allegedly receiving funds from the United States for upseating the already weakened Leftist regime.

The Trinamool Congress objected severely to Basu?s comments, which were aired all day on local news channels repeatedly with the insulting words in Bengali being beeped out as newsreaders said the comments were too obscene.

Under pressure, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee too was forced to speak out against Basu?s comments. But the CPI-M leader did not promise an action against Basu even as he called it ?unacceptable?.

Basu has a long history of going too far with his bad-mouthing, also having embarrassed the Left during the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, reports said.