Kolkata: BJP’s West Bengal unit secretary Priyanka Tibrewal has demanded the immediate arrest of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Five people have been killed as violent clashes erupted in parts of West Bengal during the process of filing nomination papers for next month’s Panchayat polls, and Tibrewal has accused the CM of “provoking people” and “inciting violence” in the state.
“I believe Mamata Banerjee should be immediately arrested for inciting and provoking violence. This is what we witnessed during the last elections also. She incited violence and provoked people to attack CISF personnel whenever they are brought in, and that is what happened. This is what she repeated yesterday,” Tibrewal told ANI.
Tibrewal alleged that central forces and police administration “are controlled” by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government in the state.
“Mamata Banerjee had said earlier that let the central forces leave, then you see what will happen. There are reports from NHRC and various other NGOs which stated that many people were murdered and women raped. They (TMC) are losing their hold in the rural areas and know people will not vote for them and so they are doing this,” Tibrewal claimed.
The state government and state election commission on Saturday decided to challenge Calcutta High Court’s order directing deployment of central forces for the conduct of Panchayat elections.
Bloody clashes, following incidents of bombing and firing, compelled state Governor CV Ananda Bose to visit violence-hit areas and take stock of the situation.
Calling for the end of clashes, the Governor said violence won’t be tolerated under any circumstance.
TMC opposed Ananda Bose’s visits, saying that it wasn’t necessary as violence had taken place in just one or two pockets of the state.