BJP alleges Howrah communal clash fallout of Sagardighi bypoll verdict
New Delhi: The BJP has alleged that the Howrah communal clash was the fallout of the Sagardighi bypoll verdict of March 2, which the Trimanul lost to the Congress.
The BJP alleged that the clash was a “message” by TMC supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to the Muslim vote-bank in West Bengal that the Trinamul was the “only option” for them ahead of the panchayat polls later this year and Lok Sabha elections in 2024.
The TMC had been winning Sagardighi, where the Muslim population is nearly 60 per cent. According to the BJP, the bypoll result was an "indication of the dilemma" of the Muslims as "whether to react to the growing mis-governance and rampant corruption or to continue supporting the TMC."
The BJP claimed there was an "erosion" in the Muslim votebank due to internal differences in the Trinamul's core votebank. After the bypoll loss, Ms Banerjee has taken over the charge of the minority affairs ministry.
The BJP also cited the remarks of the West Bengal CM urging devotees celebrating Sri Rama Navami earlier this week to “kindly avoid the Muslim areas as Ramzan is going on” and “celebrate peacefully and do not try to create violence,” slamming her for pursuing “rampant appeasement.”
Denying any BJP role, a senior party leader said, “All this (communal violence) is TMC’s creation to send a message to its core vote-bank (Muslim).” He added: “When it comes to misgovernance, everyone suffers whether you are a Hindu, a Muslim, a Christian or anyone.”
He said the Sagardighi bypoll verdict had forced Mamata Banerjee to recalibrate her strategy regarding the Muslim vote-bank. The BJP has also claimed that most of the cases have been filed against the BJP members and supporters in the communal clashes cases.
Blaming the Mamata Banerjee led TMC government for the communal violence, union minister Anurag Thakur, at the sidelines of an event, said “The violence and arson that happened in Bengal during Rama Navami took place at the behest of Mamata Banerjee…she remained a mute spectator to the attack on Hindus…she has limited herself to one particular community which was evident through her remarks …Mamata Didi is sleeping…she is providing protection to those instigating violence against the Hindu community.”
