Bengal Violence: Will Defy Bar on Political Programmes, Says BJP
At least three people died and several were injured in TMC-BJP clashes in Basirhat on Saturday night.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has called for a 12-hour ‘bandh’ in Basirhat, while a ‘black day’ is being observed in the rest of West Bengal on Monday, 10 June, over the violence in Sandeshkhali on Saturday that left several party workers dead.
The BJP took out protest rallies in the district subdivision on Monday, demanding immediate arrest of the culprits involved in the killings of its workers. Workers squatted on roads and railways tracks at many places in the subdivision, disrupting the movement of vehicles and trains.
Warring parties BJP and the TMC, on Sunday, 9 June, continued to blame each other for violence, even as bodies of two BJP workers and one TMC worker were recovered and several others remained ‘missing’.
At least three people were killed and several were injured in TMC-BJP clashes in Basirhat on Saturday night.
- Several shops and houses were reportedly ransacked on Saturday during the violence
- On Sunday, police stopped BJP leaders from carrying mortal remains of workers to the party office
- On Wednesday, the BJP will march to the Lalbazar Kolkata Police headquarters in protest against the violence
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Clashes Break Out Between TMC, BJP in Basirhat
At least three persons were allegedly killed and several others were severely injured in clashes that broke out between the TMC and the BJP in Basirhat on Saturday night, sources in both the parties claimed.
The bodies have been identified as that of Sukanta Mondal, Pradip Mondal and Kayoom Mollah. While Sukanta and Pradip were BJP supporters, TMC leaders said Kayoom was an active worker of their party.
State BJP general secretary Sayantan Basu claimed that the party workers were shot dead when they stopped TMC supporters from "throwing away" their party flags.
While the BJP leadership on Sunday claimed that five of its supporters were killed in the clash, the TMC said that six of its workers were missing.
Police Stop Mortal Remains of BJP Party Workers From Being Carried
On Sunday, 9 June, security forces in West Bengal had stopped BJP leaders in Minakha, Basirhat by blocking the state highway as they were taking the mortal remains of deceased party workers to the party office.
An earlier attempt of the police at Malancha to stop the party failed as the BJP workers forced their way through.
State BJP President Dilip Ghosh, who was accompanying the hearses said, “The police did not act when our people were attacked and killed and now they are not allowing us to take the bodies of our party workers.”
BJP to Observe Black Day Across State on Wednesday
On Wednesday, the BJP will march to the Kolkata Police headquarters of Lalbazar to protest against the violence in Sandeshkhali, party sources said, reported PTI.
The BJP held meetings and rallies at several places in the state on Sunday as well, including Kolkata, protesting the killing of its party workers, and courted arrest. At least 62 persons, including 11 women, were arrested in Kolkata, police said.
BJP Calls for 12-Hour Statewide Bandh, Vows to Move Court
After the clashes on Saturday night, BJP has called for a 12-hour bandh in Basirhat on Monday, while party general secretary Rahul Sinha announced that they would observe black-day in the rest of the state. They have also vowed to move court against the role of the police.
West Bengal Chief Secretary Writes to Home Ministry
The West Bengal Chief Secretary has written to the Home Ministry stating, "...while there have been a few stray post-poll clashes in the state perpetrated by some anti-social elements, the law enforcement authorities have been taking firm and appropriate actions in all such cases without any delay."
In his letter to the Home Ministry, he also stated, "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."
BJP Doesn't Believe in Democracy: TMC Leader Partha Chatterjee
TMC has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, saying that the MHA advisory to West Bengal is a politically motivated, deep-rooted conspiracy by BJP to "grab" power.
West Bengal Minister and TMC leader Partha Chatterjee said, “BJP is using Home Ministry for political conspiracy. BJP itself had tried to create violence. Two days back, in Gangarampur they had hit police officials. BJP leaders sitting in Delhi are not understanding situation of the state.”
“BJP doesn't believe in democracy. We don't have to learn from BJP, We'll tackle this,” Chatterjee added.
BJP Workers Sit on Railway Tracks in Basirhat, Block Rail Traffic
BJP workers are sitting on the railway tracks and blocking rail traffic at the Bhyabla station in Basirhat as a 12-hour bandh called by the party is in progress.
Visuals of Bandh From North 24 Parganas
BJP Takes out Protest Rallies, Workers Squat on Roads, Railway Tracks
West Bengal is observing a "Black Day" and a 12-hour shutdown in North 24 Parganas district's Basirhat subdivision on Monday, as the BJP took out rallies in several parts of the state, sporting black badges.
The BJP took out protest rallies in the district subdivision, demanding immediate arrest of the culprits involved in the killings of its workers.
A huge contingent of police personnel has been deployed in the area to avoid any untoward incident, police said.
BJP workers squatted on roads and railways tracks at many places in the subdivision, disrupting the movement of vehicles and trains.
BJP Holds Demonstration in Purulia, Chant 'Jai Shri Ram'
BJP is holding a demonstration in Purulia, West Bengal as the state observes ‘Black Day’. They can also be seen chanting “Jai Shri Ram”.
MHA Advisory 'Deep-Rooted Conspiracy' by BJP to 'Grab' Power: TMC
The Trinamool Congress, on Monday 10 June, issued a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging that the MHA advisory to the West Bengal government is a "deep-rooted conspiracy" and an "evil ploy to grab power" in opposition-ruled states, news agency PTI reported.
WB Governor Meets Home Minister Amit Shah
West Bengal governor Keshari Nath Tripathi met with Home Minister Amit Shah over the post-poll violence in the state that claimed at least three lives and injured several others, CNN News18 reported.
"I have told PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah about the ground situation. Can't give details,” Tripathi told NDTV.
News agency ANI quoted him as saying that he just informed PM Modi and Shah of the general situation in the sate. He further said that his visit was a courtesy call.
Mamata Banerjee Hold Review Meeting in Howrah
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on Monday 10 June held a state-level administrative review meeting in Howrah. However, it was unclear if the meeting was related to the recent violence in the state.
Centre, BJP Cadres Trying to Incite Violence, Throttle My Voice: Mamata Banerjee
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged on Monday that the Centre and the cadres of the ruling BJP were trying to incite violence in the state and were conspiring to bring down her government.
She also said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was trying to throttle her voice as she was the only one in the country to protest against them.
(Source: PTI)
Apprised PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah on Situation in West Bengal: Governor
West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi on Monday said he has apprised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah about the prevailing situation in the state, where post poll violence has claimed nearly a dozen life so far.
Asked about the possibility of imposition of President's rule in West Bengal, he said there was no such discussion during his meetings.
(Source: PTI)
Not Demanding Prez Rule in Bengal, but Will Defy Bar on Our Programmes: BJP
The BJP said it is not demanding President's rule there but asserted that it will "defy" the Mamata Banerjee government's bar on its political programmes, including victory processions.
BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya said on Monday the ruling Trinamool Congress took out victory marches in seats where it won in the Lok Sabha polls, but the state government prohibited the BJP from doing so by imposing Section 144 of CrPC, which bars an assembly of five or more people on the ground that it may lead to violence.
(Source: PTI)
There Might Be Need for President's Rule in State, Says West Bengal Governor
In an interview with India Today West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi said there may be need for President's rule in the state.
“There might be (a need for President’s Rule). When the demand comes then the central govt will consider. But, I didn't discuss anything on President's rule with the Prime Minister or the Home Minister today,” he said.
(Source: India Today)
Mamata Says 2 Died in Clashes, Slams Media Speculation About Early Polls in West Bengal
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Monday asserted that two persons were killed during Saturday's violence and not five as claimed by the BJP, and slammed media speculation regarding early assembly elections.
The TMC supremo alleged that the BJP was "spreading fake news" about the law-and-order situation in West Bengal on social media and by providing advertisement to the media to defame the state.
She also ruled out early assembly elections, as speculated in the media following the impressive performance of the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls and in view of the increasing number of TMC leaders joining the saffron party.
(Source: PTI)