BJP team blames govt. for Asansol riots

‘Policemen remained mute spectators’

LUCKNOW, UTTAR PRADESH, 26/11/2015: SHAHNAWAZ HUSSAIN ADDRESSING MEDIA: BJP National Spokesperson, Syed Shahnawaz Hussain, arrives to address the media at party office in Lucknow on November 26, 2015. Photo: Rajeev Bhatt

A four-member Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) delegation that visited the riot-affected areas in south Bengal on Sunday accused the Trinamool Congress government of failing to control the situation in Asansol in Paschim Bardhaman district.

The team members said the State government is “responsible” for last week’s communal flare-up in the State.”

‘Foul intention’

Questioning the team’s visit, violating prohibitory orders, Trinamool secretary general Partha Chatterjee said the ruling party at the Centre has come to the State with “foul intention.”

The delegation comprised national spokesperson Syed Shahnawaz Hussain and MPs Om Prakash Mathur, Vishnu Dayal Ram and Roopa Ganguly.

“The State administration and police were mute spectators…[It was] not just a communal riot which took place out of the collusion between TMC and police but the State government is also responsible for it,” Mr. Hussain told a press conference at the State BJP headquarters in Kolkata.

Mr. Hussain criticised Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for not being in Bengal when the violence broke out.