Bengal Ram Navami Violence: After reports of clashes emerged from parts of the state on the occasion of Ram Navami yesterday, West Bengal Leader of Opposition (LoP) Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to take action against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. He attributed the disruptions to what he termed as CM’s “provocative speech”, which he alleged had incited miscreants.
Adhikari in his post said that Ram Navami processions were disrupted and attacked in various places due to CM Banerjee’s alleged remarks. In a video posted by Adhikari, Banerjee can be heard saying, “You people will be in trouble. I am saying this to my brothers and sisters…If you find them engaging in sloganeering on… 17th (April – Ram Navami), it is the day they do Rioting” (As per the subtitles of the video posted by Adhikari).
The Ram Navami Processions were disrupted and attacked at various places across the State of West Bengal, due to the CM’s provocative speech which successfully incited miscreants, who were assured that the Law enforcement Agency won’t act against them as their hands have been… pic.twitter.com/HXwJvP4Pdx
— Suvendu Adhikari (Modi Ka Parivar) (@SuvenduWB) April 18, 2024
Bengal LoP asserted that the situation deteriorated despite the Calcutta High Court’s permission for the processions with certain restrictions.
“I have written a letter to the Hon’ble Governor; Dr. C.V. Ananda Bose, apprising him regarding the attacks on the Processions taken out on the occasion of Ram Navami on 17.04.2024 and requested him to immediately intervene in order to control the failing Law and Order Situation,” Adhikari said. He further urged for the incidents to be investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and called upon the Election Commission to take action against the Chief Minister.
Bengal Ram Navami Violence
In Murshidabad, one of the areas affected by the clashes, tension prevailed after miscreants reportedly bombed a Ram Navami procession, ABP Ananda reported. The police intensified their efforts to maintain order, conducting searches in the Baharampur-Shaktipur border area while central forces patrolled the vicinity, the report said.
Yesterday’s violence in Rajnagar, where several people were injured and properties vandalised continued to cast a shadow over the area, according to another report by ABP Ananda. The BJP had accused the Trinamool Congress of instigating the violence.
