The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday ordered the removal of the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) of Murshidabad range in West Bengal over violence in the district and the officer’s alleged “lack of supervision” to immediately prevent more incidents, prompting Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to accuse the poll body of working on the instructions of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Objecting to the transfer of a senior police official, the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Murshidabad range, by the Election Commission of India (ECI), West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said that if there was one more riot in the State, the ECI would be responsible.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) chairperson alleged that the Murshidabad DIG had been transferred on the instructions of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
“Now, if there are riots in Murshidabad and Malda, the responsibility will lie with the ECI. Based on the ECI’s statements, officers are deliberately changed for the BJP to trigger violence. If there is even one riot, the ECI will be responsible as they are looking after the law and order here,” Ms. Banerjee said, addressing a gathering in Cooch Behar district.
The Chief Minister also threatened to go on a strike. “If I can fast for farmers for 26 days [a reference to the Singur agitation], I can go on a hunger strike for 55 days outside your office as well. I know how to fight. I am not a coward! Remember this!” she said.
Leaders of Opposition parties, on the other hand, have welcomed the transfer. State Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury welcomed the development and alleged that the police officer was trying to foment communal tensions in the region.
Ms. Banerjee had also raised objections over the transfer of Kolkata Deputy Commissioner of Police Soumya Roy by the ECI.
Minorities urged to exercise restraint
Meanwhile, Ms. Banerjee expressed apprehensions over communal tensions during Ram Navami celebrations on April 17. Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister urged people of minority communities to keep calm if slogans were during Ram Navami. There have been incidents of communal violence on Ram Navami in the past in West Bengal.
“I will appeal to minority brothers and sisters, if on the [April] 17th you see them raising slogans...that is a day for them to indulge in riots, I feel it should be a day for unity. Even if they abuse you, keep you cool and pray to Allah. Wait for them to leave,” she said.
The remark evoked a strong reaction from BJP leader Amit Malaviya. “Who are these ‘them’ that Mamata Banerjee wants the minorities to send out of Bengal? The Bengali Hindus? Where will they go? West Bengal was created as a homeland for Hindu Bengalis,” Mr. Malaviya said.
HC grants permission
Meanwhile, the Calcutta High Court on Monday granted permission to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) to hold a procession on the occasion of Ram Navami in Howrah city, while imposing certain conditions to ensure the event proceeded without tension.
The petitioners had requested permission for the procession, starting from near Shibpur IIEST to Ramkrishnapur ferry ghat on the banks of the Hooghly.
While granting permission, Justice Jay Sengupta directed that no provocative slogans were to be chanted and that the procession had to proceed without stopping en route.
Ram Navami will be observed on Wednesday, April 17.
