Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Saturday (July 29) accused Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers of orchestrating violence in West Bengal during the recently concluded panchayat elections on the orders of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Thakur, who was in Kolkata to honour the BJP's rural election winners, also revealed that the clashes during the elections killed over 57 people.
Thakur condemned the violence and claimed that it was carried out to fulfil Mamata Banerjee's wishes. In a press conference in Kolkata, he expressed his concern about West Bengal's deteriorating law and order situation. Thakur accused Mamata Banerjee of sheltering hooligans and criminals for her political gain over the last 8-9 years.
"I would like to state that over 57 people were killed in the recently concluded panchayat polls. People were killed in order to fulfil Mamata Banerjee's wishes. West Bengal's entire law and order system is in shambles. Mamata didi, your party leaders restored hooliganism (during the panchayat polls)," Thakur was quoted as saying by PTI.
"In comparison to the last (rural) elections, the BJP has more than doubled the number of seats this time. This demonstrates that people have begun to fight back. The results show that Mamata Banerjee's days here are dwindling," Thakur added further.
TMC Leaders Respond To Thakur's Accusations
TMC leader Shashi Panja questioned the timing of Thakur's visit to West Bengal, citing the ongoing unrest in Manipur. Panja expressed reservations about Thakur's previous statements and dissatisfaction with his presence in the state. She chastised the BJP for inciting violence and accused them of plotting to destabilise West Bengal's democratically elected government.
"He (Thakur) said, 'Goli maro desh ke gaddaro ko' (shoot the traitors). He should have been imprisoned, but because he is a BJP member, he got away with it," Panja told PTI.
"Instead of being in Manipur, he is in West Bengal, where he is speaking about violence during rural elections. The Prime Minister and other Union Ministers have also remained silent on Manipur. The BJP incites and spreads violence. They said the democratically elected government in West Bengal would be deposed and President's Rule would be imposed," she said.