A day after Meghalaya Governor Tathagata Roy prescribed justice for the Pulwama terror attack victims by boycotting everything Kashmiri, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a scathing attack on “those holding constitutional posts” saying a section of political parties/groups were making hate statements, undermining the country’s’ federal and secular health.
The Chief Minister who on Wednesday declared a payment of Rs 5 lakh each for the two CRPF jawans from Bengal who had perished in the savage terror attack on February 14 besides offering government jobs to the next of their kin tweeted: “a section of political parties/groups along with people holding constitutional positions” were “indulging in rumour-mongering, spreading hatred with dangerous statements.”
Though she would not name Roy in her comment, Banerjee wondered “what levels of polluted politics have we descended to,” criticising those who were indulging in shameless politics.
Roy had earlier supported a call for boycotting “everything Kashmiri” including tourism to that State, Amarnath Yatra and purchasing the products that were produced there.
Asking the Kashmiris living in Bengal to stay in the State without fear Banerjee said, “there is no reason to be afraid here in Bengal.
There was one stray incident (of attack on two Kashmiris) but we have taken strong action there because we want a united India and not a divided India.”
Incidentally, the Chief Minister had earlier questioned the developments Pulwama attack wondering whether the Centre was trying to go to war when Lok Sabha elections were round the corner. She alleged “while the Government did nothing after the Pathankot attack it was creating a “war-like hysteria” before the general elections.
In a related development central Kolkata witnessed clashes between two groups when alleged RSS-BJP youth on Wednesday attacked an anti-war procession led by Association for Protection of Democratic Rights.
“A group of about 15 people carrying the national flag attacked the rallyists decrying battle-mongering,” said APDR chairperson Sujata Bhadra. “We have unequivocally condemned the Pulwama attack and have stood by the victims’ families but this does not be taken as an excuse to spread war-mongering between and mass hysteria, he said adding “some people certainly from the RSS and the BJP who were essentially not Bengali-speaking attacked us even as the police stood mute spectators.”