'Selective Approach On Bengal, Manipur’: Congress Hits Out At Centre On Violence In Two States

Congress leader Salman Khurshid said the Centre works selectively when it comes to handling situations related to violence in Manipur and West Bengal.

The Trinamool Congress national spokesperson Derek O’Brien sought Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s comments on the Manipur violence and Congress leader Salman Khurshid said the Centre work selectively. ( Image Source :PTI )

Senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid hit out at the central government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for its alleged selective approach to issues related to violence in Manipur and West Bengal panchayat polls violence. In a video shared by news agency PTI, Khurshid spoke on BJP’s fact-finding team for West Bengal and said the Centre has a selective approach to things as it goes to West Bengal, but not Manipur. Salman Khurshid was referring to the ethnic clashes in Manipur and the panchayat poll violence in West Bengal.

VIDEO | "This (Central) government has selective approach to things. It goes to one place (West Bengal), doesn't go to another (Manipur)," says Congress leader Salman Khurshid on formation of BJP's fact-finding team for West Bengal. pic.twitter.com/qPYKSQPuJ3

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 15, 2023

TMC Lashes Out At BJP For Shah's 'Bloodcurdling Violence Remark'

On the other hand, West Bengal’s ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) also hit out at Union Home Minister Amit Shah and described his remarks on the recently held West Bengal Panchayat poll violence as "distasteful and insensitive.” Reacting to his remarks, the TMC also sought Shah’s comments on the Manipur violence and how his ministry was restoring peace in the strife-torn state. TMC national spokesperson Derek O’Brien said the BJP was thinking about their voting percentage instead of showing compassion to grieving families of those who died in the violence.

Even bloodcurdling violence in West Bengal could not stop the BJP from putting up a stellar performance in Panchayat Election. The BJP nearly doubled its seat tally from the previous election indicating a significant rise in the trust placed by the people.

This shows that the…

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) July 14, 2023

In a Tweet on Friday, Amit Shah said even the "bloodcurdling violence in West Bengal" could not stop the BJP from putting up a "stellar performance in the panchayat election". He also said that the BJP nearly doubled its seat tally from the previous election indicating a significant rise in the trust placed by the people. Reacting to this, Derek O’Brien said Home Miniter Amit Shah’s remarks were “distasteful, insensitive.”

Mr Home Minister @AmitShah what a distasteful, insensitive statement from you. How much lower can you go?

As Home Minister, you have the responsibility to protect people, and keep the nation at peace. Instead of showing compassion to grieving families, you are gloating over the… https://t.co/HP8bj6Op93

— Derek O'Brien | ডেরেক ও'ব্রায়েন (@derekobrienmp) July 14, 2023

Hitting out at him, O'Brien asked: "How much lower can you [Shah] go?" O’Brien also said the Home Minister is responsible for protecting people and keeping the nation at peace. In the same Tweet he said, “Instead of showing compassion to grieving families, you are gloating over the politics of (fake) vote percentages. Shame. And if that is not bad enough, even those percentages are inaccurate. Your party's vote percentage has dropped.”

In an official statement, the TMC said that after the BJP failed in the state, the saffron party had resorted to dirty tricks and “unleashed unspeakable violence” on ruling party workers, reported news agency PTI. Earlier, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said around 19 people died in incidents related to the poll. She added that most of them were from her party.

Meanwhile, BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said TMC reacted to Amit Shah’s comets in such a way because they are "frustrated over the truth being out." Bhattacharya was quoted as saying by PTI: "Amit Shahji has said the truth. The entire country has witnessed the violence and anarchy unleashed by the TMC during the polls, which is continuing even after the elections are over.”