“Who told you to carry swords in a Ram Navami procession? Why did you remove the DIG a day ahead of Ram Navami? So that you can execute violence?” Banerjee said on Thursday at a TMC election rally in the Raiganj Lok Sabha constituency, which will go to the polls on April 26.
Earlier, after Murshidabad DIG Mukesh Kumar was transferred, the chief minister had said in north Bengal that the Election Commission would have to take responsibility if law and order problems arose because of the police officer’s removal.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari alleged that Banerjee’s “provocative speech” had incited violence and that law enforcement agencies had their hands tied because of the chief minister’s statement that Ram Navami was “a day for rioting for them (BJP)”.
“… I have written a letter to the Hon’ble Governor; Dr C.V. Ananda Bose, apprising him regarding the attacks on the Processions taken out on the occasion of Ram Navami on 17.04.2024 and requested him to immediately intervene in order to control the failing Law and Order Situation, as well as getting the incidents investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA),” he wrote on the X website.
Adhikari demanded action against the chief minister claiming that it was her “provocation” that led to the untoward incidents.
And the Opposition CPM faulted both the TMC and the BJP. “The TMC and the BJP are in a competition to show who worships Lord Ram more. It is sad that both parties use religious sentiments to polarise voters,” CPM leader Sujan Chakraborty said.
In Rejinagar-Shantipur, crude bombs were hurled and shops vandalised after two groups clashed with each other following stone-pelting during a Ram Navami procession. Nearly 20 people were injured in the violence. Banerjee said a police officer was among the injured.
Local residents said there were adequate police and central forces in front and behind the procession. When the police resorted to lathicharge, suddenly massive bombs exploded in the area. The residents alleged that several bombs were thrown at the police as well.
“When the Ram Navami procession reached near Shaktipur High School intersection, some suddenly started throwing bricks and stones at participants of the procession. Clashes broke out over the incident,” said a local resident on the condition of anonymity.
A similar incident was reported from Egra in East Midnapore. Stones were pelted at Ram Navami procession when it passed through the college junction in the town. Four people were allegedly injured seriously in the incident. The police deployed a large number of personnel in the area and brought the situation under control with the help of lathis and tear gas shells.