Hanuman Jayanti saw swords and spears drawn out once again but not as fiercely as they had been during the Ram Navami celebrations a week ago even as Bengal Governor KN Tripathi on Saturday made a frantic appeal for peace and harmony during his visit to the riot-hit areas of Asansol and Raniganj.
However, some groups staged rallies flashing arms in public in Birbhum and Hooghly during Hanuman Jayanti.
The Governor, who could not tour all the affected areas, said, “I had planned to come here two days ago but had to postpone it. I appeal to the people to maintain peace and harmony at all cost because peace is paramount. I have come here with a message of peace and brotherhood. Everyone from any caste creed or religion should live in peace and respect each other and their religious festivals. Such incidents should not recur again.”
The twin coal towns of Bengal had witnessed violent flare-ups on Ram Navami day when members of two communities clashed with each other leaving at least three people dead.
The Governor, who had to postpone his visit to Raniganj-Durgapur by a couple of days on account of the State Government’s failure to make adequate security arrangements for him, visited relief camps for the riot victims at Kalyanpur and some other places even as senior State Minister Partho Chatterjee questioned “the motive behind certain visits.”
The Minister quoted unspecified number of people wondering, “why he visited some selected areas only,” and “whether the people will question his impartiality in time to come.” He also rued why Tripathi met members of a particular outfit only during his visit.
Elsewhere, police stopped a Congress delegation led by MP and State Congress president Adhir Chowdhury from entering the volatile zone even as they blocked Durgapur Expressway in protest complaining the Government highhandedness.
“We were told that Section 144 had been clamped in the region but how could they bring the national highway under such prohibitive orders,” Chowdhury later said leading the road blockade which was subsequently cleared.
“We wanted to meet the victims only but were stopped from doing so. Both the Trinamool and the BJP are playing politics with common man’s plight. That we were stopped from entering the area only proves that they have certain things to hide.”
Even as the situation in the region remained grim “but under control,” police personnel and Rapid Action Forces continued to patrol the area particularly in view of Hanuman Jayanti celebrations, police said.
At Bansberia in Hooghly some saffron supporters carried out a rally with open swords and spears, said sources, adding, however, no untoward incident took place.
In Howrah and parts of north Kolkata both Trinamool and BJP leaders took out colourful processions to celebrate the festival.