Day after Bengal violence, Mamata targets BJP: ‘Police could have fired in the air’

In response, the Opposition party said TMC leaders were speaking the “language of the lumpen”.

Mamata Banerjee alleged that the BJP brought goons armed with bombs in trains from outside the state to foment trouble during its “Nabanna Abhiyan”. Praising the police she said at an administrative meeting at Nimtouri in Purba Medinipur district, “The police officers could have fired in the air but they were very measured in their response. This cannot happen, you cannot book trains and bring people from other states to create nuisance in Bengal. Since they (BJP) don’t have numbers, they resorted to bombs and goondaism to create violence. I have never stopped democratic protests, you work in a democratic way, no one will stop you. But in the name of a movement, you can’t get bombs and break heads. I pray for those who were injured, hope they get well soon.”

The CM said an “Assistant Commissioner was grievously injured” in the violence and “his eye was injured and hand was broken”. She added, “Many police personnel were brutally attacked by the participants of that rally … The entire city had come to a halt, the Puja market was disrupted as this is the time when people get more business.”

Banerjee went on to say, “We have nothing against democratic and peaceful protests. But, the BJP and its supporters resorted to violence, vandalism and arson. They torched properties and instilled fear among people. We won’t allow this. Arrests are being made, and law will take its own course.”

Meanwhile, Abhishek said, “I salute all the officers of the police force for the manner in which they conducted themselves, for showing sheer patience, endurance and remaining within the ambit of the Constitution. If I were there, I might have shot them (protesters) in the head.”

North Bengal Development Minister Guha, who is the MLA from Dinhata in Cooch Behar district, said, “We are not wearing bangles. If my boys are attacked, we will not sit idle. They should remember that if they beat up one of us, we will hit back by thrashing two of them.”

Attacking the BJP, Moitra said, “Chapter 1 in BJP’s New Education Policy: how to methodically torch police vehicle.”

Hitting out at the Trinamool Congress (TMC), the BJP said such statements were expected from leaders of the ruling party who speak the “language of the lumpen”. State BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said, “The more the TMC’s misdeeds are getting exposed, the more their leaders are getting desperate and making such comments out of frustration.”

State BJP president Sukanta Majumdar, reacting to Abhishek’s comments, said, “Today we heard terrible words coming out of Abhishek Banerjee’s mouth. Today, he explained that the new grassroots he is talking about creating will shoot people in the head.”

Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad alleged that Banerjee was trying to “divert attention from the rivalry within the TMC by using force against BJP members” and claimed that over 1,000 of the party’s workers were injured after the police used force. “She has now left the Left behind in inflicting atrocities and brutalities on the BJP…Under Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal has become a lawless and bankrupt state…Corruption has reached epic proportions,” said the former Union minister.

State BJP leader Rahul Sinha said Moitra should “explain” if the same “rules” of using bulldozers could be applied to the TMC. “Moitra should explain if the same rules can be applied for those who took part in the rampage of Assembly properties against her party colleagues,” he said, adding, “Some stray retaliations could have taken place as the peaceful protesters were facing brutal police action.”

Violence against police

Leaders of other parties also reacted to a video of the violence tweeted by the Indian Police Foundation, which is an independent think tank. The video showed policemen being attacked by people during the protest march.

“Goons & hooligans have taken over the political discourse in some states. Promises dangerous portends for our future generations. No hope unless politicians show the sagacity to think beyond the next election & accord higher priority to national interests than party interests,” the think tank tweeted.

Responding to the tweet, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah tweeted, “Imagine the reaction from the BJP if the flags being used to mercilessly beat a police officer had belonged to a political party other than their own!”

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Gujarat leader Gopal Italia tweeted in response to the video, “Sir, can’t you recognise these goons by their clothes?”

(With inputs from PTI)