TMC & BJP trade barbs over ‘viral videos’ of Ram Navami

The first video purportedly shows a youth sporting a saffron head band atop a DJ vehicle dancing while holding a handgun during what appears to be a Ram Navami procession. The second video shows a youth in a yellow kurta dancing near a DJ vehicle while brandishing a handgun.

Both the Howrah police commissionerate and the CID, which took over the probe into the violence, were tight-lipped on the matter of the video and the youth.

“Our DJ event was a big affair and was on a big truck. But the youth shown in the video highlighted by the TMC is dancing on a small vehicle. This was not our rally. However, we have asked all our volunteers to see whether the youth or the rally can be identified,” said Ritu Singh, state president of Durga Vahini, the women wing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, who is among the organisers of the Ram Navami rally in Howrah along with Anjani Putra Sena a social organisation on Thursday. Violence erupted during the rally and a day after on Friday.

The Sunday Express spoke to Pappu Shaw, owner of the DJ setup which was used in the Ram Navami procession.

“Within the huge crowd, it is hard to identify who is dancing in front of our DJ setup. But the video which went viral is not of our DJ setup. I had rented two generators and four speakers. They ransacked the entire system. One of the generators was burnt and one has been kept at the Shibpur police station. I have contacted the police to return the same to me. I have already suffered from a loss of Rs 5 lakh. I give DJ setup on rent every year for Ram Navami processions. I never thought this would cause me so much loss,” said Shaw.
Shaw gives sound systems on rent to be used at different cultural progammes too.

TMC leader Joyprakash Majumder said, “It is not always easy for the police to identify one from the crowd and in such serious crimes, the police always have to double-check before an arrest. So, one should not blame the police before the investigation concludes. I am sure in future, the police will identify this culprit and he will be arrested.”

TMC state general secretary Kunal Ghosh said, “After this video was highlighted and circulated, the BJP is on the backfoot. Now, they are enacting a drama to disown the person who is dancing while holding a handgun. I am sure today or tomorrow police will arrest that criminal.”

On Friday, TMC MP and All India General secretary Abhishek Banerjee held a press conference and highlighted, among other issues, the video of the youth purportedly brandishing a handgun during a procession.

“Footage from the spot has emerged showing that those who attended the procession were carrying guns, pistols, and swords. Hawkers lost their wares as their carts were set on fire. What kind of Shobha Yatra was this? What kind of tradition is this to play DJ music and pay respects to our Lord Ram? Mamata Banerjee became the Chief Minister in 2011. This kind of hooliganism was never seen in Bengal till 2015,” Abhishek Banerjee said.

On Friday, BJP leaders including BJP state president Sukanta Majumder and their IT-cell head Amit Malviya also blamed the police, sharing videos of stone pelting on the procession of Ram-navami. However, police are also tight-lipped on the video clippings.

Malviya tweeted, “Situation worsening in West Bengal, rioters have free hand… After Ram Navami violence, rioters are clearly seen throwing stones on roads today. You can clearly identify them. CM @Mamata Official.. is still ignoring the threat. Shame!!!”

BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya told The Sunday Express, “When the incident took place, the police were a mute spectator and now they are arresting innocent people. So it is now clear what the intention of the Mamata Banerjee administration is.”

CPI (M) leader Sujan Chakraborty said, “It seems that Mamata Banerjee wants communal tension in this state. Otherwise, how come this incident took place within a one kilometre-radius of the state administrative headquarters (Nabanna). It is a complete failure of the administration even if Mamata Banerjee had no ulterior motive.”