Bengal Violence: BJP, TMC Trade Charges Over Ram Navami Clash. Here's Who Said What

Following the violence, the West Bengal government on Friday handed over the probe to Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

Violence erupted during Ram Navami procession in Howrah

New Delhi: Violence erupted after two groups clashed in Howrah during Ram Navami celebrations on March 30. During the procession, the rioters vandalised public and private properties and set vehicles on fire.

Visuals showed several vehicles engulfed in flames and heavy police deployment, including riot control force, in the area. A police van and a car with their glasses smashed were also seen in the videos tweeted by ANI.

Following the violence, the West Bengal government on Friday handed over the probe to Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

Political reactions started to pour in soon after the violence erupted. While Trinamool Congress accused the BJP of instigating the violence, the saffron party alleged that Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee orchestrated it to win the support of Muslim voters.

Who said what:

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP of hiring goons from outside the state to orchestrate communal riots.

"The BJP funds the riots in West Bengal and is encouraging violence. There is Hanuman Jayanti on the 6th, and they have plans for that day too," she said reacting to the incident.

BJP MP Locket Chatterjee said that following TMC's defeat in the Sagardighi by-elections, Mamata Banerjee is resorting to these measures to gain the support of the Muslim voters.

"After losing the Sagardighi by-elections, Mamata Banerjee is doing all this to secure 30% of Muslim votes," she remarked.

TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee released some videos of Ram Navami celebrations in Howrah, in which gun-wielding persons can be seen dancing to loud music.

Reacting to the video, Banerjee said, "violence never occurred in 2011 to 2014, the initial years of Trinamool rule, but started after BJP began winning a few seats in Bengal."

BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari claimed that the “appeasement politics” of the ruling party is behind the incident.

"The attack on the Ram Navami procession without any provocation is a result of Mamata Banerjee's appeasement politics," claimed Adhikari.

BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar alleged that Mamata was sending a message to her followers to launch attacks during Hanuman Jayanti.

"Mamata is signaling her henchmen to attack during Hanuman Jayanti," he said.

BJP national vice-president Dilip Ghosh alleged that TMC and Left parties are trying to spread the notion that Ram does not belong to Bengal's culture. According to them, Ram is an outsider.

"The condition of West Bengal is similar to that of Bangladesh and Afghanistan," he stated.