West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday accused BJP of orchestrating the riots and alleged that the "central forces came, stayed in a five star hotel, instigated riots, then held a meeting with BJP people and returned," news agency ANI reported.
Banerjee's remarks came a day after two groups clashed during a Ram Navami parade in Rishra and Serampore in the Hooghly district.
Urging the people not to support BJP in Panchayat and 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Banerjee stated: "I will do everything for you (people), but you are requested not to support BJP, the party that instigated riots."
She further accused BJP for deliberately taking out rallies in minority areas of the state without permission.
Speaking at a public distribution programme, Banerjee stated: "Why will there be Ram Navami processions for five days? You can organise several such rallies on the day it is celebrated. We will have no objection... But, do not carry arms with you. They (BJP) are deliberately entering minority areas with such processions without permission. Yesterday in Rishra, too, they took out rallies in which people were seen with arms," PTI reported.
BJP Demands Mamata Banerjee's Resignation
In response, the BJP accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of orchestrating recent unrest in the state and demanded her resignation on Monday.
In a joint news conference with two other party MPs, BJP Hooghly MP Locket Chatterjee appealed for the Centre's action and sought an NIA investigation into the incident.
The episodes of violence that have occurred in West Bengal since Rama Navami, she claims, are the outcome of a "pre-planned plot" devised by Banerjee.
The Hooghly MP further accused the TMC supremo of engaging in "appeasement politics" and stated that "Hindus in West Bengal are under attack."
"You all know how violence happened during Ram Navami at Howrah in West Bengal. That day, Mamata Banerjee was on the Dharna Manch & she diverted all media attention while Muslims attacked the Hindus. She is doing appeasement politics because panchayat election, & Lok Sabha election are upcoming & she wants to concentrate on Muslim votes," she stated.
"CM Mamata Banerjee is focusing only on Ramzan Roja but she has no care about the Hindu festivals Navratri & Ramnavmi. In Bengal, Hindus are in danger, we the BJP will always stand with Hindus & take appropriate action on this. Now West Bengal’s situation is like old J&K and Pakistan. We want West Bengal CM must resign from her post," Locket Chatterjee further stated.
Violence erupted in sections of Howrah district on Thursday and Friday during Ram Navami festivities, resulting to the arrest of 45 persons.
(With Inputs From PTI, ANI)