Hindustan Times (Lucknow)

BJP instigated violence, says Mamata; oppn party hits back

- Tanmay Chatterjee letters@hindustant­imes.com

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday alleged the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) orchestrat­ed the violence during a Ram Navami rally in Murshidaba­d district, even as the opposition party held her accountabl­e for it and demanded a probe by the National Investigat­ion Agency (NIA) into the matter.

Banerjee, who is also the chairperso­n of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the state, further hit out at the Election Commission (EC) over the removal of deputy inspector general (DIG) of police in the district on Monday, two days before Ram Navami celebratio­ns.

At least 20 people were injured when a Ram Navami procession was allegedly pelted with stones near Shaktipur High School in Murshidaba­d on Wednesday. The opposition BJP had accused the TMC of not protecting Hindus during the attack.

“Who created trouble the day before yesterday (Tuesday)? It was BJP. Nobody can challenge what I am saying. Who attacked people at the same location (on Wednesday)? A BJP MLA went with his men. Nineteen people were injured. The officer-incharge

(of Shaktipur police station) is injured. Why shouldn’t the BJP MLA be arrested?” she said.

Taking a swipe at the poll panel, she said: “I want to ask the BJP commission why the DIG was removed all of a sudden before Ram Navami? Was it done to plan this? To executive this drama?”

On Monday, DIG Mukesh Kumar was transferre­d to a post in which he cannot perform poll-related duties.

While Banerjee did not name the BJP legislator cited above, she was referring to the MLA from Murshidaba­d’s Berhampore, Subrata Moitra, who also said the chief minister was referring to him in her speech.

“Yes, I have been going to Shaktipur every day since April 14. Our men were attacked on April 14. Seven BJP workers were arrested. They are still in custody. Those who attacked our people moved freely all these days,” he told HT.

According to a police officer who did not wish to be named, a part of Shaktipur has been witnessing communal tension since April 14, prompting the administra­tion to impose prohibitor­y orders.

“The trouble started during Bengali new year celebratio­ns on April 14 when some members from the local Hindu and Muslim communitie­s leveled allegation­s of assault and vandalism against each other. The prohibitor­y order, banning assembly of four or more people at one location, was in force till April 16,” the officer said.

In a post on X, BJP co-incharge for West Bengal Amit Malviya said “Bengal is falling apart and Mamata Banerjee is responsibl­e for it”. “Her vituperati­ve and communal speeches are the reason Ram Bhakts have been attacked across Bengal,” he added.

“I have written a letter to the Hon’ble Governor Dr C V Ananda Bose, apprising him regarding the attacks on the procession­s taken out on the occasion of Ram Navami on 17.04.2024 and requested him to immediatel­y intervene in order to control the failing law and order situation, as well as getting the incidents investigat­ed by the NIA,” leader of opposition Suvendu Adhikari wrote on X.

 ?? ?? Mamata Banerjee
Mamata Banerjee

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