BJP Trying To Replicate Manipur-Like Riots In West Bengal: CM Mamata Banerjee

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said the BJP was trying to replicate riots similar to Manipur in her state.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also condemned the recent attack on state minister Birbaha Hansda’s vehicle and said Kurmi community members were not behind the incident that took place on Friday, but the BJP activists were behind it.

Source : PTI

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said that the BJP was trying to replicate a Manipur-like situation in her state by planning to orchestrate ethnic riots. She also condemned the recent attack on state minister Birbaha Hansda’s vehicle. Banerjee further claimed that Kurmi community members were not behind the incident that took place on Friday, but the BJP activists were behind it, news agency PTI reported. She also said those attempting to fuel the ethnic riots in the state will not be spared.

During a rally in Salboni in Paschim Medinipur district, she said, “The BJP was behind ethnic violence in Manipur. The saffron party is trying to replicate similar riots between communities in West Bengal.”

“They want to create a situation wherein Adivasis will fight Kurmis so that army can be called in and the military will have shoot-at-sight orders," said Banerjee.

Her comments have come after the state minister's vehicle, which was part of TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee's convoy, was attacked and damaged after being pelted with stones in the tribal-dominated district.

Speaking further on this, she said, "I condemn yesterday's violence. I don't believe Kurmis were behind the attack. BJP workers disguised as members of the Kurmi community were behind it," reported PTI.

Convoy of Trinamool Congress's (TMC) national General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee was attacked in West Bengal's West Midnapore district on Friday by Kurmi protesters. His convoy was passing through the tribal-dominated village of Salboni when the protesters attacked it, reported news agency IANS.

The Kurmis in West Bengal have been demanding scheduled tribe status for the community and have resorted to protests in the state.

The rear glass of the vehicle of West Bengal minister Birbaha Hansda was totally smashed on being hit by bricks thrown at the convoy by the agitating Kurmi protesters.

They also shouted "thief, thief" slogans while the convoy was passing through the area.

"I personally hail from a tribal background. This is not the way of protest. We have been parts of several movements before. This is simple hooliganism. I will see it through to the end," Hansda was quoted as saying by the news agency.

The minister also alleged Kurmi protesters of beating up the Trinamool Congress workers who were part of the convoy. 

Hansda also took on opposition parties Bharatiya Janata Party and the CPI-M for "instigating" Kurmi protesters to carry out the attack.

"Trinamool Congress had never opposed the movement of the Kurmi community in demand for scheduled tribe status. Then why is the attack on our convoy. This cannot be the nature of any caste movement," she said, as reported by IANS.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is supposed to address a political rally at Salboni area on Saturday, May 27.

Last month, several organisations of the Kurmi community had staged a protest for more than three days and blocked railway tracks and roads demanding the inclusion of the Kurmi community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list.