New Delhi: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has condemned the post-poll violence in West Bengal in “severest terms” and said it was “well conspired” with anti-social elements playing a role in it.
In a statement Friday, RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale said the violence unleashed soon after the results were declared on 2 May was not only “highly condemnable but appears to be well conspired also”.
The RSS leader alleged that the role of the state machinery was “completely passive” and it “remained mute spectators” during the violence.
“Neither the rioters are seemed to be afraid of anything nor is there any initiative by the state police and administration to control the violence (sic),” he said.
Hosabale asked the re-elected Trinamool Congress government to establish the rule of law by containing violence and initiating legal action against the culprits. He said there is widespread fear psychosis among the common people.
He also asked the Narendra Modi government at the Centre to take necessary steps in establishing peace in the state.
“The first and foremost responsibility of the ruling administration, whoever or whichever party may be in power, is to establish peace and safety in the society by maintaining law and order, to instill fear of law in the minds of the anti social elements, and to punish those involved in violent activities. The electoral victory belongs to political parties, but the elected government is accountable to the entire society,” he said.
“We demand the newly elected government of West Bengal, as its top priority, to effectively establish rule of law by immediately containing violence, to initiate legal action against culprits by arresting them without further delay and also to instill a feeling of safety and confidence in the minds of affected people, and to take necessary steps for their rehabilitation,” Hosabale said.
“We also urge upon the Union Govt to take necessary and all possible steps to establish peace in WB and to ensure that state Govt acts in the above direction,” he added.
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‘Well conspired’
According to Hosabale, elections have a significant role in a democracy and the entire society of Bengal “vehemently participated in the same”.
“It is but natural that the opposing sides, in the fit of emotions, sometimes cross the limits in making allegations and counter allegations. However, we should always remember that all contesting parties belong to our country only and all those participating in the elections — the candidates, their supporters, the voters — are citizens of the nation,” he said.
“But the violence unleashed state wide, soon after the election results came out, is not only highly condemnable but appears to be well conspired also,” he said.
The RSS leader further blamed “anti-social” elements for it and said they misbehaved with women in a “barbaric and despicable manner”.
“The anti social elements active in this abhorring violence, misbehaved with womenfolk in most barbaric and despicable manner, brutally killed the innocent people and torched the houses, shamelessly looted the shops and malls; and, as a result of the unabated violence, thousands of people including a large number brethren of scheduled castes and tribes, who became shelterless, were forced to go in search of refuge to save their lives and honour,” Hosabale said.
“Everywhere from Coochbehar to Sundarbans, there is a widespread fear psychosis among the common people,” he added.
Hosabale said it is the RSS’ “considered opinion that this post-poll-result violence is contrary to the Bharatiya tradition of Co-existence and respect to the opinion of all, as also it is totally opposed to the very spirit of democracy and one people enshrined in our Constitution”.
He also appealed to the “intelligentsia, the socio-religious and political leadership” to play a role in creating a “feeling of trust and standing by the suffering sections of the society in this hour of crisis, to condemn the violence unequivocally, and also help create an atmosphere of peace, goodwill and harmony”.
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