New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Sunday that she is prepared to protest if the CBI takes the BJP's lead in the Birbhum violence case, adding that she believes the incident was the result of a plot, news agency ANI reported.
On Tuesday, eight people were burnt to death in the Rampurhat region of West Bengal's Birbhum after a crowd reportedly set fire to buildings following the assassination of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Bhadu Sheikh and the village's local deputy president.
Following Calcutta High Court's directions, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took over the investigation into the Birbhum violence case on Saturday. On Friday, the court ordered the West Bengal government's Special Investigation Team (SIT) to turn over case documents and accused people detained by it to the central investigation agency.
Addressing an event, Banerjee said, "I still think there is a conspiracy behind the Rampurhat incident. CBI took over the charge, It is a good decision, but if they will only follow BJPs directions, we are ready to protest."
The CM went on to slam the Opposition for criticising the state administration. "A Trinamool worker was killed by another party worker. But only TMC is being criticised everywhere. We have taken several steps to investigate the matter and know the original cause of the Rampurhat incident,” Banerjee was quoted by ANI on its official Twitter handle.
Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, mounted a demonstration with party workers in front of the SDO office in Rampurhat on Saturday, demanding Mamata Banerjee's resignation and the involvement of the Centre in the problem.
"Many such incidents have taken place in Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Karnataka, Tripura, and Assam. Our party workers were not allowed to reach the incident site, but in Birbhum, we never stopped any political party," Banerjee said.
(With ANI Inputs)