Amid reports of post-poll violence from several districts of West Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday called up West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankar and BJP national President J.P. Nadda flew to the State to visit families of those killed .
Political parties, including the BJP, CPI(M) and Congress, have alleged that their cadre were being attacked by Trinamool Congress supporters. There were reports of violence from Birbhum, Howrah, Basirhat, Sonarpur and Bardhaman in south Bengal, and Dinhata and Sitalkuchi in north Bengal. According to the State BJP, the number of party supporters killed in the past two days has risen to nine.
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The Trinamool Congress has, however, rubbished the allegations, saying its supporters were at the receiving end.
‘PM anguished’
“PM (Prime Minister Modi) called and expressed his serious anguish and concern at the alarmingly worrisome law and order situation. I shared grave concerns @PMOIndia given that violence, vandalism, arson, loot and killings continue unabated. Concerned must act in overdrive to restore order,” tweeted Governor Dhankar after Mr. Modi’s call.
CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury also condemned the violence, tweeting, “Are these reports of gruesome violence in Bengal TMC’s ‘victory celebrations’? Condemnable. Will be resisted and rebuffed. Instead of focusing on combating the pandemic, TMC unleashes such mayhem. CPI(M), as always will be with the people to protect, assist, providing relief.”
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Congress in charge of West Bengal Jitin Prasada said, “The post poll violence that has been unleashed by the TMC on the Congress workers is unacceptable. Even women and children are not spared. I’m sure the people of West Bengal did not vote for this lawlessness.”
Speaking to reporters after visiting the families of BJP supporters killed in Kolkata and Sonarpur in South 24 Parganas, Mr Nadda said, “Those who cannot hear the cries of a wailing mother can only say that the killing of our supporters is political gimmick. Intolerance thy name is Mamata. I want to assure BJP workers of West Bengal that crores of BJP workers are with them.”
BJP supporter Abhijit Sarkar was killed at Beleghata in Kolkata while Horom Adhikari was killed at Sonarpur.
Mr Nadda also said the incidents of violence are distressing, and such intolerance cannot be seen anywhere in the country. “We are committed to fight this ideological battle and TMC which is full of intolerance. We will fight it democratically,” he said.
West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP) president appealed to the Governor to postpone the swearing-in of the Chief Minister and should focus on the law and order situation.
Cadre killed: TMC
Denying the allegations, TMC leader Firhad Hakim said the BJP is trying to spread a false narrative when in certain places it is the Trinamool Congress supporters who are the receiving end of the violence.
“Three of our supporters have been killed in the violence,” Mr Hakim said.
There were reports from Ketugram in Bardhaman of a TMC supporter being killed. Incidents of clashes between supporters of both parties were also reported from Tarakeshwar in Hooghly district.