Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said “provocation” by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee , calling for a gherao of Central forces , resulted in death of four youth in firing by security forces at a polling station in Cooch Behar on Saturday.
Also read:Mamata speaks to families of Cooch Behar victims over phone, calls it ‘genocide’
“An unfortunate incident happened during the fourth phase of voting . Some youths fell for the provocation of Didi and attacked a polling booth and tried to snatch weapons from CISF. CISF had to fire and four youths died. It is matter of grief for us. But I want to ask why the youth dared to indulge in such an act,” Mr Shah said during a poll rally at Basirhat Dakshin.
The Home Minister said that at the same Assembly seat Ms. Banerjee had publicly announced that youths and women should come forward to gherao CAPF and attack them. “Didi, you left after making the announcement on a wheelchair. But because of you four youths lost their lives,” Mr Shah said.
The Home Minister repeated the BJP’s accusation of the appeasement politics by the Trinamool Congress. He said while Ms. Banerjee was condoning the death of four people killed in the CISF firing and was keen to visit their residence, she did not condole the death of a BJP worker, Anand Barman, as he was from the Rajbongshi community.
Mr. Shah participated in a number of road shows in Nadia district and addressed a public meeting in North 24 Parganas which is going to polls in the fifth phase on April 17.
Responding to the Chief Minister remarks, blaming him for the violence and demanding his resignation, Mr. Shah said, “I will resign whenever the people want me to but you will have to tender resignation to the Governor on May 2.”
Earlier on Saturday Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made similar accusations against Ms. Banerjee following the poll violence.
