KOLKATA: A BJP delegation has accused the West Bengal government of lack of initiative in handling in the recent unrest in Raniganj and Asansol. The national ruling party also strongly criticised Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for going to Delhi at a time when parts of Bengal were facing communal tension.
BJP vice-president Om Mathur who led the four-member party committee to the affected areas said, “Almost seven days have passed since the violence but there have been no initiatives either from the state or the ruling party to help out the victims. They also showed complete lack of will in handling the unrest.” He added, “When such a big incident happened in Bengal, the chief minister is sitting in Delhi for five-six days, looking for political benefits. The BJP strongly condemns this and demands immediate and strict action against those involved in the violence.”
He said there should not be one-sided action against a specific community. “The actions of the government should not be one-sided. I have heard that people from a certain community are being charged and harassed. Surely, the people of Bengal will give the Trinamool Congress the punishment it deserves at the right moment.” The delegation visited the violence-hit areas despite the state government's prohibitory orders. National spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain visited Asansol, blaming the Trinamool Congress of having failed to control the situation after returning to Kolkata. “It has played the role of a mute observer. We visited relief camps in Asansol and found it was a failure on the part of the state,” he said.
He added that the delegation will submit a report to BJP chief Amit Shah. Reiterating Mathur's opinion, he claimed the Banerjee government is causing pain to the people of Bengal. “When Bengal is burning with communal tension and the police is playing the role of a spectator, instead of helping the state's people she is holding a meeting with leaders in Delhi. Instead of leading Bengal, she is dreaming about leading Delhi. People of Bengal will not forgive her for this,” he said.
