Kolkata: Fresh clashes erupted during a Ram Navami rally taken out by the BJP in West Bengal’s Hooghly district Sunday, days after the violence in Howrah.
The BJP took to Twitter to share purported videos of those participating in the rally who were running for cover amid heavy stone-throwing. The party’s national vice-president Dilip Ghosh, who was leading the religious procession, told mediapersons at the spot: “Despite the incident in Howrah, the state government continues to neglect law and order. This is such a big rally and there are several women and children who were pelted with stones. A section of society is being provoked, if there is retaliation, who will be responsible for it? Mamata Banerjee only cares about politics.”
. @abhishekaitc, who are these stone pelters?
Remove your lenses and watch. You will get clearer picture.
Public knows everything. pic.twitter.com/yEr8j3zoGA
— Dr. Sukanta Majumdar (@DrSukantaBJP) April 2, 2023
The latest clashes have further fuelled the volatile political situation in the state with the ruling Trinamool Congress and BJP at loggerheads ever since violence gripped Howrah district Thursday and Friday, after clashes broke out between members of the Hindu and Muslim communities during a Ram Navami procession in Shibpur. The district administration had to impose Section 144 in the area to restore law and order.
The BJP has now written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking his immediate intervention. “Today, another attack was made on the Ram Navami procession at Rishra in Hooghly district where our Hon’ble MP and All India Vice President Dilip Ghosh was participating. Along with the Ram Bhaktas he too was attacked by stone pelting. His vehicle was torched and incidents of arsoning and fire happened as police stood still as mere spectators which strengthened our allegations that there is definite support from the ruling party TMC, and section of the administration led by Mamata Banerjee (sic),” the letter read.
Bengal is going out of control. Mamata Banerjee is unable to control the riots. She is protecting a particular community and targeting Hindus.
Wrote to Union Minister @AmitShah ji for immediate help in West Bengal. pic.twitter.com/pVnwh6mAaL
— Dr. Sukanta Majumdar (@DrSukantaBJP) April 2, 2023
TMC Minister Shashi Panja said law and order is being restored in the district by the administration. “Dilip Ghosh is known for his radical statements, he is known for his statements of provocation and he was the one spearheading the rally,” she added.
The police have so far not issued any statement regarding the violence.
West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose, who is in Darjeeling, issued a statement on the fresh spate of violence. “Hooligans and thugs will be crushed with an iron hand. They will be made to curse the day they were born. Democracy can’t be derailed. State is determined to put an end to this arson & looting. Lawbreakers will soon realise that they’re playing with fire,” it read.
Assuring stern action against the perpetrators, the statement further said: “Reinforcement rushed to the spot, and culprits will be booked tonight itself and put behind the bars. We’re determined. This kind of hooliganism thwarts democratic processes.”
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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