BJP Blames Mamata Banerjee for Basanti Violence During Bengal Polls
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Kolkata, March 27 (NationPress) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) asserted on Friday that the unrest and confrontations in Basanti, located in the South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, where a police sub-inspector was assaulted by individuals purportedly affiliated with the ruling Trinamool Congress, stemmed from the incendiary remarks made by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during an election rally earlier that day.
BJP’s Information Technology cell head and the party’s central observer for West Bengal, Amit Malviya, released a statement on social media on Friday morning, asserting that the unrest in Basanti erupted shortly after the Chief Minister, while speaking at a campaign rally in Pandaveswar of West Burdwan district on Thursday afternoon, urged her party members to arm themselves with “whatever was at home” to suppress the opposition.
“The continuous incitement from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is provoking violence. Just yesterday in Pandaveswar, the TMC leader openly signaled a state-wide offensive, advising her supporters to prepare themselves with “whatever is at home” to eliminate the opposition. She had made similar violent calls recently in North Bengal. THE ATTACK IN BASANTI FOLLOWED: Moments later, a TMC-led group, incited by her comments, launched a vicious assault on BJP campaigners who were merely conducting their campaign,” Malviya claimed in his statement.
He further criticized the local police for their inaction during the violent episode allegedly orchestrated by ruling party affiliates.
“The West Bengal Police stood by and witnessed the chaos. This situation must not spiral out of control,” Malviya continued, urging the Election Commission of India (ECI) to intervene and ensure that criminal factions within the Trinamool Congress are held accountable.
The ECI has already requested reports regarding the Basanti violence that occurred on Thursday. Following the incident, personnel from the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have been dispatched to Basanti, and a route march has been organized by the CAPF in the area to alleviate the panic among local residents after the confrontations.