Kolkata, July 13 -- West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday defended the state's Anti-Social Activities Act, asserting that it is necessary to dismantle decades of political violence and "thug rule" under previous governments.

Speaking on the Anti-Social Activities Bill passed by the West Bengal Assembly, Adhikari said the legislation was needed to act against those responsible for violence during the previous Trinamool Congress governments.

"This was very necessary. There was a government of communist thugs for 34 years. Then there was a government of Trinamool goons for 15 years. This law was very necessary to seize them. We got the law passed in the assembly, and the governor approved it," said Adhikari.

The West Benga...