After the Calcutta High Court ordered a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into the violence during Ram Navami processions in the state, the members of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal engaged in a war of words.
Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumder welcomed the court order and said on Twitter, “Welcome the Calcutta HC decision to transfer the violence incidents happened on Ram Navami in WB to NIA. These riots were pre-planned and instigated with the support of TMC govt. It was triggered by the inflammatory speech of the CM.”
Another BJP MP Locket Chatterjee said that she doesn't have “faith” in Mamata Banerjee-led government as no actions have been taken despite attacks on “Hindu processions”.
"There are stone pelting and attacks on Hindu processions. There is no investigation in all these cases. We have no faith in the Bengal administration. We wanted an NIA investigation and are happy that the case has been handed over to the NIA," she was quoted as saying by several news reports.
Meanwhile, TMC MLA Shashi Panja accused the BJP of orchestrating the violence on Ram Navami.
“It is clear they have orchestrated it. Our CM has previously stated that many such situations have occurred in the past in places such as Gujarat, despite severe incidents, there you won't find the NIA. But in Bengal, even if a firework explodes, the NIA is called in,” said Shashi Panja. She further added, "BJP is trying to garner political vantage, and so they stoke communal tension," according to a report by India Today.
Hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, a division bench presided by Acting Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam directed for the transfer of investigation to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) from the West Bengal Police.
In the PIL, Adhikari sought an NIA probe into the violence, during which it was alleged that bombs exploded.
A riot-like situation broke out in West Bengal’s Howrah district near Kolkata amid Ram Navami celebrations this year. Videos circulating on social media platforms showed several vehicles set on fire and public property vandalised amid heavy police deployment in the area.
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee condemned the incident and accused the opposition BJP of “hiring goons from outside” and orchestrating communal riots in the state.
