Mamata downplays post-poll clash as ‘sporadic incidents’
Says first priority of state government is to control the Covid-19 surge
In a first, Mamata Banerjee and Jagdeep Dhankhar sparred with each other face to face at Raj Bhavan over the immediate priority of the new government — battling the Covid-19 pandemic or an end to the deadly post-poll violence — in West Bengal as soon the Trinamul Congress supremo was sworn in by the governor on Wednesday morning as the state’s chief minister for third consecutive time. The simple ceremony was boycotted by BJP MLAs in protest over the alleged killings of their party cadres by TMC workers.
Standing next to Dhankhar, Banerjee prioritised the Covid-19 battle over tackling the post-poll violence, downplaying the deadly clashes as “sporadic incidents”, orchestrated by a “political party”, in her veiled reference to the BJP. Irked by her remarks, Dhankhar not only publicly differed with her but also said that ending the post-poll violence should be the top agenda
of her new government.
The CM said: “Our first priority is to control the Covid-19. Reaching Nabanna (state secretariat) we will hold a meeting on this and inform everyone about our decisions.
Second, I urge all political parties to maintain peace, order and harmony. Bengal does not like any unrest. I also do not like it. I appeal to all — Please take proper care so that no violence erupts anywhere.
Post-poll, some sporadic incidents occurred. I will tackle law and order from today. I will deal with it with an iron hand. I will undertake some postings in law and order to avoid unrest. But I will not hold