After the West Bengal election results, 12 killed in post-poll violence, deaths recorded higher than even during elections. While the BJP and the TMC both are blaming each other for the violence, reports are coming in that the BJP themselves have torched their own BJP office in the midst of the violence to blame it on the TMC and therefore make the enforcement of President’s rule in Bengal, thereby preventing Mamata Banerjee from becoming the chief minister.
The BJP has alleged at least six party workers were killed and a large number of homes of supporters and party offices were attacked, vandalized, and set on fire across Bengal, from Sitalkuchi in the north to Kolkata in the south.
The Trinamool Congress has claimed five supporters were killed, of those three in East Burdwan, one in Hooghly.
A worker of the Indian secular front, a partner with the left and Congress in the Samyukta Morcha, was killed at Bhangar in south 24 Parganas.
In the meantime, Mamata Banerjee appeals for peace after the violence though she has blamed the BJP for the violence. The Home Ministry has asked for a report from Bengal while Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, who met BJP state chief Dilip Ghosh around 5 pm on Monday and Mamata Banerjee later in the evening for an hour, addressed the eruption of violence with her and asked for a report from the state authorities
The BJP, led by president JP Nadda arriving in Kolkata on Tuesday, will hold a day-long protest across the country tomorrow, which is the same day that Mamata Banerjee will be sworn in as Chief Minister for the third time.
Mamata Banerjee said, “Bengal is a peace-loving place. During the elections, there has been some heat and dust and calm. The BJP did a lot of torture, also the CAPF. But I appeal to all for calm. Don’t indulge in violence. If there is a dispute, inform the police. The police must manage law and order.”
BJP state chief Dilip Ghosh said, “It’s a good thing Mamata Banerjee has called for peace. If things don’t calm down, then we will hold protests and dharnas. In less than 24 hours of the results, at least 5-6 of our party workers were killed, a 1000 homes and offices vandalized. Why this violence by Trinamool even after a victory?”
However, TMC and even other parties are convinced the violence is triggered by BJP and in fact, reports were coming in from sources saying that BJP torched their own party office in order to blame it on TMC, gain media attention, distract issues, and perhaps allow the enforcement of President’s rule in Bengal, in a bid to stop Mamata Banerjee from becoming the chief minister!
The West Bengal police also confirmed that BJP workers were spreading fake news.
#FakeNewsAlert pic.twitter.com/gSAYkNPGb2
— West Bengal Police (@WBPolice) May 4, 2021
Saket Gokhale social activist said, ”
Example of how BJP is running a dangerous & sickening disinformation campaign in West Bengal about “attacks on their workers”.
Like I said yesterday – this is a ploy to sneakily impose President’s Rule after their humiliating defeat.
These monsters will go to ANY extent.”
Example of how BJP is running a dangerous & sickening disinformation campaign in West Bengal about “attacks on their workers”.
Like I said yesterday – this is a ploy to sneakily impose President’s Rule after their humiliating defeat.
These monsters will go to ANY extent. https://t.co/T4yyMTFpgS
— Saket Gokhale (@SaketGokhale) May 4, 2021