After Guv reports to PM on violence, Mamata cries BJP trying to topple her Govt
Close on the heels of Bengal Governor Keshri Nath Tripathi on Monday apprising President Ramnath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Home Minister Amit Shah of the continuing political violence in the State, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP of hatching “nefarious plans” to topple her Government and warned that such a move would be suicidal for the BJP as a “wounded tigress is more dangerous than a dead one.”
“I have apprised the Prime Minister and the Home Minister about the situation in West Bengal. I can’t disclose details,” the Governor told reporters after meeting Shah. Asked about the possibility of imposition of President’s Rule in West Bengal, he said there was no such discussion.
The Governor is reported to have submitted a 48-page report to the Home Ministry about the Bengal situation.
Speaking to reporters in Kolkata, Mamata, who is also the State Home Minister, accused the BJP of trying to break her party and topple her Government. She warned “such a misadventure will only prove counterproductive for them as a wounded tigress is more dangerous than a dead one”.
Even after the polls are three weeks behind, Bengal continued to burn following regular bloodshed and clashes between the cadres of the BJP and the Trinamool Congress.
“The BJP must remember that these were only parliamentary elections. The State polls are still a good two years away. And with a small victory they are thinking themselves as God or even bigger than Him. The BJP is taking advantage of the situation by triggering violence so as to malign my Government and topple it. But I again warn them against any such mischievous designs as there will be consequences,” she said.
The BJP leadership, however, dismissed her allegations with Mukul Roy saying, “BJP does not do such things. Her Government will fall on its own,” adding, “her misdeeds have made her brought her where she is today. She is afraid and distrustful of her own shadow now.”
The war of words continued as another BJP supporter was found dead at Amta in Howrah. With Monday’s incident, the total number of casualties climbed to six in past three days even as the supporters of the BJP and the TMC continued to engage each other in intermittent skirmishes.
Roy, however, claimed that three more saffron workers were missing since Saturday evening and “we assume that they have been killed and their bodies disposed of by the TMC.”
The Chief Minister, however, dared the BJP leaders to produce the names and addresses of the so-called missing persons, adding “this is only a ploy to defame my Government and topple it”.
Tension ran high post Saturday evening following clashes between BJP and TMC men in which one TMC worker and two saffron activists were gunned down at Basirhat. The BJP subsequently called a 12-hour Basirhat-bandh and also observed a Black Day throughout Bengal.
The Chief Minister dismissed the agitation as a ploy to defame her Government because Bengal is still the most peaceful State in the country and the women here have no problem venturing out in the night.
She also warned the Trinamool men joining the BJP of appropriate actions. “There are some fair weather birds who are fleeing to the BJP after having committed corruption and defaming my party. I warn them of appropriate action as the Economic Offence Wing of the State police will soon seek them out.”
The Chief Minister also accused a section of the State police of trying to balance both the sides. “I have been reported by my Ministers and MLAs that the local police officers are not listening to them. I will tell the DGP to take not of this. I am also taking information about those officers who are working against the interest of Bengal.”