Kolkata, March 27 – The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday claimed that the violence and clashes in Basanti, in the South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, in which a police sub-inspector was also attacked by a group of miscreants allegedly linked to the ruling Trinamool Congress, were a result of the provocative statements made by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at an election campaign rally earlier that day.
Amit Malviya, head of the BJP's Information Technology cell and the party's central observer for West Bengal, issued a statement on Friday morning, claiming that the tension in Basanti began shortly after Chief Minister Banerjee, while addressing an election campaign rally in Pandaveswar, in the West Burdwan district, called upon her party workers to "arm themselves with whatever they have at home" to defeat the opposition.
"The constant provocation by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is inciting violence. Yesterday in Pandaveswar, the TMC supremo openly called for a state-wide attack, urging her supporters to "arm themselves with whatever they have at home" to defeat the opposition. She had made a similar call for violence earlier in North Bengal," claimed Malviya in his social media statement.
He also accused the local police administration of standing by and watching as the alleged rampage by the ruling party activists took place.
"The West Bengal Police stood by and watched. The situation cannot be allowed to get out of control," added Malviya, adding that the Election Commission of India (ECI) should take note and ensure that criminal elements within the Trinamool Congress were brought under control.
The ECI has already sought reports on the Basanti violence on Thursday. Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel have been deployed in Basanti following the incident. A route march has been conducted by the CAPF in the area to quell panic among residents after the clashes.