West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said here on Thursday that the State government would provide shelter to those crossing over to areas in north Bengal from strife-torn Assam even as she alleged that the Communist Party of India (Marxist) was trying to create “communal tensions.”
Critical of a recent proposal by Leader of the Opposition Surya Kanta Mishra that an all-party delegation go to north Bengal in the wake of an exodus of people from Assam, she said: “Leaders of the CPI (M) are spreading rumours. They should stop trying to stir up communal strife.”
Chairman of the State Left Front Committee Biman Bose in a statement on Wednesday demanded that the State administration deploy police and para-military forces in areas adjoining north Bengal’s border with the neighbouring State.
“The State government will provide necessary support to those seeking shelter. There is no need to issue press statements for the purpose, Comrade. Stay away from such acts,” Ms. Banerjee said.
“If people come to Bengal seeking refuge, we will provide them shelter. It is our social and moral responsibility,” she said.
The locals and the police administration in north Bengal have “accepted those seeking refuge” and provided them necessary shelter, Ms. Banerjee added.
Pointing out that people of a particular community were coming to the State to escape violence, she said she had not spoken about the issue as it could hurt the sentiments of the community.
