In response to the Ministry of Home Affairs issuing an advisory to West Bengal, the Mamata Banerjee-led government told the Centre that “firm and appropriate actions” were initiated in case of a few “stray post-poll clashes” in the state.
Following reports of violence from the state with four people getting killed on Saturday, the Centre expressed deep concern over the continuing violence in West Bengal even after the conclusion of the Lok Sabha polls and issued an advisory to the State Government on Sunday.
Four people had lost their lives in post-poll clashes in Bhangipara, Hatgacha in North 24 Parganas.
“It’s strongly advised to ensure that all necessary measures are taken to maintain law and order, peace and public tranquillity. It’s also requested to take strict action against officials found delinquent in the discharge of their duty,” said the MHA advisory to West Bengal Government.
The government’s statement in response to the Home Ministry’s advisory came in the form of a letter signed by Chief Secretary Malay Kumar De which claimed that the clashes were perpetrated by “some anti-social elements”.
“The situation is under control and it may not be construed under any circumstance to be a failure on the part of law enforcement machinery of the state to maintain the rule of law and impute confidence among the people,” the letter further said.
The Trinamool Congress further accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of “using the Ministry for political conspiracy”.
TMC leader Partha Chatterjee said the BJP does not believe in democracy adding that the state government cannot be dictated on the issue and knows how to tackle the problem on its own.
The party further accused the BJP of creating disturbance and killing its workers in West Bengal.
The BJP had on Sunday accused the TMC workers of killing three of its workers during the clashes that broke out on Saturday in the Najat area of Basirhat’s Sandeshkhali.
Party workers had clashed over taking off party flags, leading to injuries on both sides. Besides the three BJP workers, one TMC supporter also reportedly died.
BJP leader Mukul Roy had on Saturday accused West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee of the clashes.
Several BJP workers and police personnel were injured on Saturday after clashes broke out between the two sides over a victory rally being taken out by the saffron party at Gangarampur area of North Dinajpur district.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had on Thursday said victory rallies will not be allowed by any party in West Bengal, including that of the ruling Trinamool Congress.
Meanwhile, the last rites of two BJP workers, who were killed in clashes in West Bengal’s Sandeshkhali area on Saturday, were performed in their native village on Sunday after the saffron party was denied permission to take their mortal remains to Kolkata, a state BJP leader said.
A BJP delegation which visited Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas on Sunday afternoon decided to bring the bodies of its two dead activists to the party’s state headquarters in Kolkata.
However, the police denied them permission to take the bodies to the state capital, citing law and order concerns. The convoy, including two hearse vehicles, was stopped thrice.