Post-poll violence in Bengal: Mamata accuses central ministers for inciting violence, Nadda lays blame on TMC
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Thursday accused the central ministers of inciting the post-poll violence that has erupted in the state after election results were declared on May 2. The CM claimed that the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre is yet to come to terms with its loss in the state Assembly polls.
Addressing the press, Mamata also made a slew of announcements for those affected due to violence.
- A compensation of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of deceased
- Jobs of home guard to one family member each of all five persons killed in CAPF firing in Sitalkuchi
- CID probe into Sitakulchi incident
On the other hand, BJP national president J P Nadda accused the TMC of targeting BJP workers in the state after the convoy of Union Minister V Muraleedharan was attacked in west Midnapore earlier today. Muraleedharan has claimed the attack was carried out by “TMC goons”.
The ongoing tussle between the two parties finds its genesis in the post-poll violence that took place hours after the TMC, led by Mamata Banerjee, won its third successive term in the state on May 2. Several opposition parties, including the BJP, have accused the TMC of carrying out attacks on the cadre and offices of their political opponents in the state.
On Thursday, Mamata stated that at least 16 persons – mostly from the BJP and the TMC and one of the Samyukta Morcha — died in post-poll violence.
Here’s are all the major developments that took place in the state today.
Centre rushes 4-member fact-finding team to Kolkata
The Centre has deputed a team of top bureaucrats to West Bengal for a fact-finding exercise on the ongoing violence in the state. The four member team, constituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), is headed by an additional secretary rank official.
“The team left this morning and is likely to begin its work in Kolkata shortly. It has been given 48 hours to come back with a report,” an MHA official said.
Sources said the team will meet top officials of the West Bengal police apart from the chief secretary and other bureaucrats in the administration. It will also make field visits to some of the places where violence has been reported since Sunday and talk to affected families, sources said.
Union minister’s convoy attacked in west Midnapore
Union Minister of State for External Affairs and BJP leader V Muraleedharan’s convoy was allegedly attacked by locals in Panchkhudi area of West Midnapore district Thursday, with the minister claiming the attack was orchestrated by “TMC goons”. The Union Minister, however, escaped unhurt.
A vandalised vehicle after Muraleedharan’s was convoy allegedly attacked. (PTI Photo)
Muraleedharan shared a video on his Twitter handle where some people could be seen throwing sticks and stones at the minister’s convoy and chasing his car. They also broke the rear window of his car. “TMC goons attacked my convoy in West Midnapore, broken windows, attacked personal staff. Cutting short my trip,” Muraleedharan tweeted.
However, TMC West Midnapore district president Ajit Maity denied the minister’s allegations and said it was a “spontaneous protest” by the people against the BJP.
TMC-sponsored violence in full swing: Nadda
Meanwhile, BJP national president J P Nadda has said the TMC-sponsored violence has been in full swing in the state after the poll results were announced. Taking to Twitter, Nadda said, “The attack by TMC workers on the convoy of Union Minister V Muralitharanji in West Midnapore is very condemnable. I said yesterday that the law and order in Bengal has completely collapsed. What will be the situation of the general public at a place where a Government of India Minister is attacked?”
“TMC-sponsored violence has been in full swing in West Bengal since the election results. The BJP workers are constantly being attacked. When thousands of people are fleeing to save lives, incidents of rape are happening, then the Freedom of Speech and Human Rights advocates are missing,” he added.
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Nadda, who was in West Bengal on Wednesday, had met the kin of workers of the saffron party who were killed during the post-poll violence. He also administered an oath to the party’s MLAs to “dismantle political violence in Bengal”.
On May 2, hours after Mamata Banerjee-led TMC won a resounding mandate in the Assembly polls, several incidents of violence were reported in the state and both the TMC and BJP accused each other of attacking their respective cadre and party offices.
The Centre has mounted pressure on the TMC government over the incidents, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling up Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and the Union Home Ministry seeking a report from its state counterpart. BJP president J P Nadda arrived in West Bengal on Tuesday and met families of some of the victims
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has written twice to the state government, accusing it of not taking steps to stem the violence and have sought a report detailing the situation on the ground.
