Enthused by peaceful Hanuman Jayanti celebrations in presence of paramilitary forces, Bengal Opposition parties have demanded deployment of central forces in the coming panchayat elections.
“While the State police was used to control the Ramnavami processions we saw massive communal violence in Howrah, Rishra and Dalkhola in North Bengal … but all the mischief mongers evaporated in thin air when central forces were deployed following Calcutta High Court orders … this goes on to buttress our argument for central forces in the panchayat elections,” State BJP leader Samik Bhattacharya said.
His views were seconded by Left leaders like Sujan Chakrabarty who cited the large scale violence in 2018 rural elections that left as many as a hundred people dead as a reason for his demand for central forces. “The scam-tainted Trinamool Congress has no chance of winning the elections save for a few areas … the entire population including the youth of the State have made up their mind to throw out a corrupt party like the TMC … but they will have to tolerate this regime for another three years … till then they can at least give vent their wishes in panchayat polls and the general elections.
“The only thing is that they large majority of rural Bengal will have to be given chance to vote … and for that there is supreme need of paramilitary forces,” Chakrabarty said.
The rural polls are likely to be declared in a few weeks time. Bengal has about 65,000 voting centres requiring more than 1.25 lakh police men and about 3 lakh polling personnel. This in addition to about 50,000 armed men for the quick response teams. In that case the Bengal Government can requisition security forces from the neigbouring states or it can request the Centre for deployment of paramilitary forces.
“An irresponsible opposition — marked by an unholy alliance of BJP, Left and the Congress — which is out to malign the government is now trying to take advantage of the situations created by the central agencies by bringing in central forces …
“But the name of our leader is Mamata Banerjee who has fought her way up and will continue to do so with the help of the common people of Bengal who love her no end,” said Riju Dutta a State TMC spokesperson adding, the State Government had adequate number of police personnel and if the State Election Commission asked for security forces then the Government will have no problem providing them. Meanwhile, the Hanuman Jayanti was celebrated in several parts of Bengal with much fanfare but with no violence when reports last came in.
Though there was some agitation at Bansberia in Hooghly district when the police stopped BJP MP Locket Chatterjee from visiting the place. Chatterjee resorted to an hour-long sit-in demonstration against alleged police excesses before withdrawing.
Elsewhere State Opposition Leader Suvendu Adhikari took part in Hanuman Jayanti celebrations in East Midnapore and Howrah where he congratulated the people for taking part in celebrations.
Earlier, in the wake of communal disturbances at Shibpur in Howrah and Rishra in Hooghly district the Calcutta High Court had directed State Government to deploy central forces and clamp prohibitory orders in sensitive areas.