West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee started the blame game on Monday for Basirhat riots on the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Centre which she said was conspiring to destabilise her Government by fuelling an atmosphere of social turbulence.
Known for her once-bitten-doubly-ferocious approach Mamata told a public rally at East Midnapore “both the Centre and the States are elected by the people. So the Centre has no right to conspire against the State. New Delhi owes an answer to this question.”
The Chief Ministerial broadside was coupled with “very strong action” that she promised earlier when FIRs were slapped against Delhi-based BJP leader Nupur Sharma for allegedly posting “false pictures” on the Facebook in the name of Basirhat riots.
Alleging that there were some “outsiders” who had been planted by a particular party (read the BJP) to create an air of communal distrust among the people of Bengal she urged her audience: “Identify these people and beware of them. Don’t fall prey to their conspiracy as their only job is to ignite communal tension and reap political harvest.”
Referring to clippings of some other areas that had allegedly been posted in allusion to Basirhat riots Banerjee said, “incidents of Bangladesh’s Comilla and a clipping from a Bhojpuri film were posted suggesting they were scenes of Basirhat riots,” adding “we respect Facebook but we do not respect Fakebook.”
Attacking the Central Government for complementing the jobs of mischief mongers Banerjee claimed despite repeated requests Delhi would not send in adequate Central forces either at Basirhat or in Darjeeling.
She also said that the riot-mongers who were at work at the border districts were the responsibility of the Centre and nor the State as “BSF has to mind the infiltrators till 15 km from the border. So how are we responsible.”
Referring to Darjeeling she said the Centre was allowing the situation to go out of control by “not sending military in that region despite our repeated request” adding now they are telling us to move the two companies of CRPF manning (Maoist hit) Jhargram region of Jangalmahal to Darjeeling so that new problems can arise in these areas. But we will not allow such problems to arise.”
Meanwhile FIRs were lodged at Regent Park and Gariahat Police Stations against Nupur Sharma for allegedly posting misleading photographs of some other incidents in the name of Basirhat riots. Cases were filed under Sections 153A, 205A,, 465, 471 and 505, police sources said adding investigation would soon begin and “law will take its own course.”