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BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal on Sunday criticised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over her response to the recent incidents of violence in Murshidabad district, accusing her of selective vote bank politics and raising concerns about the safety of the Hindu community in the state.
"What happened in Murshidabad right under Mamata Banerjee's nose is very regrettable, and Mamata Banerjee's silence after that clearly shows that Mamata Banerjee wants to do politics of only one class," the BJP MP told ANI. He added that the West Bengal Governor, CV Ananda Bose, also visited the incident site and assessed the situation, but questioned the response from the state government. "There is a lot of insecurity for the Hindu community. The question arises that who will protect the Hindus living in Bengal? Will Mamata Banerjee make this promise to the people of Bengal?" Khandelwal added. The statement comes in the wake of violence that erupted on April 11 during protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act in the region, which resulted in the deaths of three people, injuries to several others, and widespread property damage. Several families have been displaced, with many migrating to Jharkhand's Pakur district, while others have taken refuge in relief camps set up in Malda. Meanwhile, days after the violence, Mamata Banerjee on Saturday issued a public appeal urging citizens to maintain peace and unity. She accused the BJP and its affiliates, including the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), of exploiting the incident to incite unrest for political gain. In an open letter, Banerjee alleged that certain groups were "using the backdrop of an unfortunate incident" to promote a divisive agenda. "BJP and its allies have suddenly become very aggressive in West Bengal. These allies include RSS. These forces are using the backdrop of an unfortunate incident that happened under provocation. They are using the backdrop to play divisive politics," she said. The Chief Minister stressed the importance of communal harmony and solidarity. "My appeal is that please remain calm. We condemn communal riots and must curb them. The criminals behind the riots are being dealt with strongly. But, simultaneously, we must avoid mutual mistrust and distrust. The majority and the minority communities must work together and take care of each other," she added. Banerjee also highlighted the state's response to the violence, confirming that law enforcement authorities have acted swiftly. "For maintaining law and order and for saving human lives and dignity, we have taken strong actions. Two police officers-in-charge have been removed. Police are investigating. Further actions are being taken..." she said. Accusing political opponents of attempting to destabilise the state, CM Banerjee said, "They want to incite riots, and riots can affect everyone. We love all. We want to stay together. We condemn riots. We are against riots. They want to divide us for some narrow electoral politics." (ANI)
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