Crimes Against Women And A Message For Mamata, Himanta: Respect Your Constitutional Chair

Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Source : PTI/ Facebook@himantabiswasarma

While criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "trying to incite unrest in West Bengal" over the RG Kar rape and murder case protests in her state, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee remarked that if Bengal burns, Assam and the Northeast would also burn. Mamata Banerjee's statement, threatening Assam and the Northeast, is truly shocking.

This piece isn't about the horrific Kolkata rape and murder case involving a medical trainee doctor or the way the Mamata-led Trinamool Congress government "mishandled it," drawing criticism from both the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court. It focuses on how a Chief Minister, failing to manage her state, is threatening other states, particularly the Northeast—a sensitive region due to its ethnic diversity and history of militancy.

In this underdeveloped region, where more than half the area is under forest cover, jobs are relatively scarce, and land is vital for livelihood. Any small flare-up has the potential to escalate into large-scale ethnic violence, which could then provide opportunities for various secessionist terrorist groups in the region to exploit the situation and swell their ranks to fight against India.

It must be noted that Mamata Banerjee's irresponsible statement comes at a time when the northeastern region is facing a threat amid the possible fall of pro-New Delhi Sheikh Hasina and the rise of Islamism in neighbouring Bangladesh. Let’s not forget how, during the rule of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party — whose founder, Ziaur Rahman, was the first to steer the country toward Islamisation — and its Islamist ally, Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh became a haven for northeast-based secessionist terrorist groups.

This highlights Mamata Banerjee's insensitivity toward the Northeast. This is in addition to the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur, where both the Biren Singh-led BJP government and the Centre have failed to restore complete normalcy even a year after the ethnic violence between the Meiteis and Kuki-Zomis. The outcome of this violence is seen in the resurgence of terrorists from both Meiteis and Kuki-Zomis. This situation is further complicated by the turmoil in neighbouring Myanmar.

Mamata Banerjee should remember that she holds a constitutional post and threatening unrest in the Northeast, a part of India, only to save her chair, is unbecoming of her position. In a democracy, there will be protests led by the Opposition, particularly when there are serious allegations against the state government for mishandling the rape and murder case.

These protests should be dealt with within the state and within the ambit of democratic politics. If Mamata, who, as Health Minister, Home Minister, and now as Chief Minister, has failed to handle the RG Kar hospital rape and murder case, cannot withstand the protests democratically and maintain the dignity of her constitutional position, she has the option to resign.

As an inhabitant of the Northeast, this writer urges the Chief Minister of West Bengal to refrain from issuing "warnings" that could create unrest in the Northeast, where peace has come after decades of bloodshed — though, unfortunately, the people of Manipur are still waiting for normalcy even after a year of ethnic violence.

Assam CM Himanta Needs To Stop Targeting Bengali Muslim Community

The gang rape of a 14-year-old girl in Nagaon district's Dhing in Central Assam has taken a communal tone. Last week, one of the accused, Tafiqul alias Tafazzul Islam, "accidentally drowned" in a pond near the crime scene while attempting to escape from police custody. Amid this, various indigenous organisations, including the All Assam Tai Ahom Students’ Union, have launched movements to drive out Miya Muslims (Bengali-speaking Muslims) from Upper Assam.

In response, the Muslim fish traders of Nagaon decided to suspend the supply to the districts of Upper Assam. However, the indigenous people of Upper Assam are not concerned by this decision, as they claim they have sufficient local fisheries to meet their needs.

In the backdrop of the development, this week, state Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said in the state assembly that he would not shy away from taking sides. This remark came when the opposition accused him of being partisan regarding the recent diktat by several indigenous organisations to the Bengali Muslims to leave Upper Assam, a region predominantly populated by Assamese-speaking indigenous communities.

It is true that the indigenous and Assamese-speaking population has declined over the last few decades, and this is a genuine concern. However, Himanta Biswa Sarma, as Chief Minister, must choose his words better. Targeting the entire Bengali Muslim community over a gang rape case is unjustified. He should remember that he holds a constitutional post and is also the Chief Minister for Bengali Muslims, whether they vote for his party or not.

In fact, Sarma and his government should intervene in the current movement launched by several indigenous organisations to drive the Bengali Muslims out of Upper Assam, as well as the decision by the Muslim Nagaon traders to suspend fish supply to Upper Assam. They should work towards an amicable solution before this issue escalates into a large-scale riot. The hatred between communities must not be allowed to fester.

Tripura East BJP MP Gives Flood-Hit Areas A Miss

This week, the Tripura government declared the entire state a “Natural Calamity Affected Area” due to the aftermath of massive rainfall, which led to one of the worst floods, resulting in the death of 32 people. According to reports, 52,906 people are staying in 346 relief camps as of Thursday. At the request of the state government, the Centre has even appointed a five-member inter-ministerial team for an on-site assessment of the flood damage. On Wednesday, the team visited South Tripura and Gomati districts—the two areas most severely affected by the floods.

Surprisingly, Tripura East Lok Sabha MP Kriti Devi Debbarma, elected on the BJP’s ticket, has yet to visit the flood-hit areas. Her absence has drawn criticism from the state’s netizens. This criticism is valid. After all, the people elected their representatives to assist them in crisis.

It should be noted that Kriti, the elder sister of TIPRA Motha founder and royal family scion Pradyot Debbarma, contested the elections as a joint candidate of Motha-BJP on the BJP’s ticket. Married in Chhattisgarh, she was proposed as a candidate by her brother. The saffron party, despite opposition from some of its tribal leaders and cadres, agreed to the proposal.

The BJP may now be reconsidering the decision to select Kriti for the Tripura East Lok Sabha seat based on Pradyot’s suggestion. Importantly, Pradyot himself has mostly chosen to remain indoors, while state Chief Minister Manik Saha, former Chief Minister and veteran CPM leader Manik Sarkar, main opposition leader Jitendra Chaudhury, and even Tripura West Lok Sabha MP and former BJP Chief Minister Biplab Deb, although belatedly, have visited or are visiting the flood-hit areas of the state.

The author is a political commentator.

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