TMC, BJP Trade Blames As Fresh Violence Breaks Out In Bengal During Ram Navami Procession: Key Points

Ram Navami Violence: Nitish Kumar announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 5 lakh to the surviving family members of those killed in clashes on Saturday in Bihar Sharif (Nalanda).

Charred remains of vehicles after a clash broke out between two groups during Ram Navami procession

The leaders of the Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) made allegations and counter-allegations on Sunday, a day after two groups clashed during the Ram Navami procession in Howrah.

State BJP president Sukanta Majumdar claimed that the Trinamool supremo orchestrated the violence for Muslim votes on Friday, launching a vehement attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the violence in Howrah during the celebrations of Ram Navami.

"I have written a letter to HM Amit Shah demanding an NIA inquiry into the violence on Ram Navami in Howrah. Amit Shah spoke to me over phone and assured me that he will monitor the causes of this entire violence," said BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar.

West Bengal | This whole violence has been orchestrated by Mamata Banerjee. She has done this to retain her Muslim votes because her Muslim vote bank was diminishing in the by-election: BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar to ANI

— ANI (@ANI) March 31, 2023

Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, made the claim earlier in the day that the BJP and other right-wing organisations were to blame for the violence that occurred in Howrah on Thursday. She spoke to individuals to keep up with harmony nearby.

"The Howrah incident is very unfortunate. Neither Hindus nor Muslims were behind the violence in Howrah. The BJP along with Bajrang Dal and other such organisations were involved in the violence with arms," Banerjee added. 

She stated that the state government will assist all whose properties were damaged in the clashes. 

On Howrah violence, West Bengal LoP Suvendu Adhikari said, "Police (Home) Minister (Mamata Banerjee) is useless. Her resignation is the only solution. I sent a mail to the Union Home Minister and Governor yesterday. Today I approached the High Court. Governor is going to visit the spot. The Court should step forward. All this should stop. Sec 144 (CrPC) has been imposed here."

#WATCH | On Howrah violence, West Bengal LoP Suvendu Adhikari says, "Police (Home) Minister (Mamata Banerjee) is useless. Her resignation is the only solution. I sent a mail to the Union Home Minister and Governor yesterday. Today I approached the High Court. Governor is going to… pic.twitter.com/7AH7FzAoac

— ANI (@ANI) March 31, 2023

Violenece In West Bengal 

A Ram Navami procession in the twin city of Howrah resulted in violence on Thursday evening between two groups. During the violence, several vehicles, some of which belonged to the police, were set on fire, and shops and auto-rickshaws were ransacked. 

Violence broke out on Sunday in West Bengal's Hooghly while the BJP was taking out a parade themed on Ram Navami. Earlier this week, during a Ram Navami procession in Howrah, Bengal, two groups had engaged in fighting.

Dilip Ghosh, the national vice president of the BJP, attended today's "Ram Navami shobha yatra." During the stone-throwing, images of the procession show people fleeing for safety.

Several vehicles were set on fire after two groups clashed in Howrah amid Ram Navami celebrations. During the procession, the rioters vandalised public and private properties and set vehicles on fire. Following the violence in Howrah during Ram Navami celebrations, the West Bengal government on Friday handed over the probe to Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

The Mamata government has suspended internet services in the district as a precaution. 

Violence In Bihar 

After clashes between two groups broke out last night in Nalanda's Biharsharif, one person was killed and several others were injured. In Rohtas district's Sasaram town, a blast injured six people. According to the police, new violence was reported on Saturday in the Rohtas and Nalanda districts, bringing tension to Bihar even a day after Ram Navami.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday held a high-level meeting with senior authorities over communal tensions during Ram Navami festivities at Sasaram and Bihar Sharif towns and guided them to make a severe move against those engaged in the violence.

In addition, the Chief Minister of Bihar (CM) announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 5 lakh to the surviving family members of those killed in clashes on Saturday in Bihar Sharif (Nalanda).

The clashes in Sasaram on March 30 forced the cancellation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah's Sunday trip there.