Tensions Simmer Again Ahead Of Ram Navami In Bengal, BJP Says Mamata Plotting Communal Violence

BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul alleged that a section of the Muslim community had been emboldened by Banerjee's support and that they can act with impunity.

BJP has alleged that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will try to provoke riots in Bengal during Ram Navami and subsequently blame it on Hindus for political reasons.

Source : PTI

Tensions simmered in West Bengal ahead of Ram Navami again, with the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accusing each other of inciting communal violence in the state. While the BJP accused the TMC of "emboldening" a particular community for violence against Hindus, the latter in turn countered with a similar allegation of "attempting to incite violence".

BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul expressed concerns about potential unrest in Bengal ahead of Ram Navami, claiming that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will try to provoke riots and subsequently blame it on Hindus for political reasons. She also appealed to the Hindu communities to stay cautious and ensure rallies are carried out in a peaceful manner. 

"Mamata Banerjee will try to incite communal violence during Ram Navami and then blame Hindus. I urge Hindus not to fall into this trap and conduct rallies peacefully," Paul stated.

She also alleged that a section of the Muslim community had been emboldened by Banerjee's support, and claimed that they can act with impunity while law enforcement in the state remains inactive.

Tensions remained high ahead of Ram Navami last year as well after violence erupted following a blast near a procession in Murshidabad's Shaktipur. The Bengal CM had blamed BJP for "instigating" violence during the Ram Navami celebrations then and called it a "pre-planned" attack.

Banerjee had even alleged during an election rally in the Raiganj Lok Sabha constituency that the DIG of Murshidabad was removed a day ahead of Ram Navami so that the BJP could carry out violence.

TMC Accuses BJP Of Hypocrisy 

Responding to this, the TMC dismissed the claims made by Paul and instead accused the BJP of attempting to trigger communal tensions. Senior TMC leader Jay Prakash Majumdar blamed BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, holding him responsible for any unrest that may take place in the state.

"If the BJP is already anticipating riots, who is actually trying to create them? It is Suvendu Adhikari who is attempting to incite violence, and if anything happens, he should be arrested," Majumdar said.

Accusing the BJP of hypocrisy, he cited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's slogan of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas", while alleging that state BJP leaders were pushing divisive narratives on the contrary.

Bengal LoP Requests CAPF Deployment In Malda

West Bengal's Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday had written a letter to governor CV Ananda Bose, seeking an immediate deployment of paramilitary forces in Malda's Mothabari.

Adhikari also highlighted concerns about the deteriorating law and order situation of the state as he requested Bengal government to deploy Central Armed Police Force in Mothabari to "protect Sanatani Hindus".

"This is to inform Your Excellency that a shocking incident has taken place on 27th March at Mothabari, where a large group of miscreants belonging to a particular community has targeted a launched a vicious attack on the Sanatani Hindus of the aforesaid area," the BJP's Nandigram MLA wrote.