INDIA: TWO DAYS AFTER VIOLENCE AT RAM NAVAMI RALLIES, PARTS OF BENGAL, BIHAR REMAIN ON THE BOIL

Weapons & Swords Openly Brandished during Ram Navami Processions in Kazipara and PM Bustee, West Bengal. Image: Biswajit Roy.

Sat 01 Apr 2023:

A day after violence surrounding a Ram Navami procession erupted on the streets of Howrah and one person died in a similar outburst in Dalkhola in West Bengal, communal tensions remained high amidst a political slugfest between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party.

BJP, along with the Congress, said the continued violence was a reflection of the Mamata Banerjee administration’s failure.

After initial violence was quelled on Thursday, Friday saw fresh skirmishes as groups of people attacked buildings and vehicles, setting fire to some and pelting stones.

PTI reported that in Uttar Dinajpur, a young man died of a heart attack during the clashes and five or six policemen were injured in attempting to contain the violence in Dalkhola town.

Local media has reported that Ram Navami processions were taken out by both TMC and BJP leaders across the state on Thursday and became a way of showing strength ahead of the panchayat elections. In some of these rallies, including in Howrah, those participating in Ram Navami rallies were seen with arms.

BJP has claimed that videos tweeted by MPs Derek O’Brien and Mahua Moitra, along with spokesperson Kunal Ghosh and national general secretary and Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek, are false.

What does celebrating the birth of Lord Ram, the 7th avatar of Vishnu have to do with brandishing guns & weapons , @BJP?

Or is every festival an excuse for mayhem & rioting? pic.twitter.com/tGVhEdI2D9

— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) March 31, 2023

Bengal’s leader of opposition, BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari, questioned the Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose’s assurance of ensuring peace.

The governor’s statement criticised the acts of arson.

“Those who resort to violence under the illusion that they can hoodwink the people will soon realise they are in a fool’s paradise. There will be effective and concerted action to book the culprits and bring them before the law. Setting fire to public property, that too on the sacred Ram Navami day, is a highly provocative act and will be viewed seriously,” it said.

“It seems honourable governor has held ‘confidential discussion with Dr Jekyll and Ms Hyde herself,” wrote Adhikari, who implied that Banerjee was the ‘architect’ of the Howrah violence.

Great to know that "Raj Bhavan will keep its eyes & ears open" & that "There'll be effective & concerted action to book the culprits"; but it seems Hon'ble Governor has held "confidential discussion" with Dr. Jekyll & Ms Hyde herself, who's the "Architect" of the Howrah violence. pic.twitter.com/SbRtDIj2r5

— Suvendu Adhikari • শুভেন্দু অধিকারী (@SuvenduWB) March 31, 2023

According to reports, Union home minister Amit Shah spoke to Governor Ananda Bose, while Adhikari has filed a public interest litigation at the Calcutta high court, urging it to take note of the violence in Howrah and Dalkhola.

Mamata Banerjee, meanwhile, appealed for peace but blamed the BJP, Hindu Mahasangh, and Bajrang Dal for the escalation of the violence.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Congress both cited the fact that the same area had seen serious violence last year as well to highlight that Bengal Police had fallen well short of efforts.

Bihar

In Bihar, too, the towns of Sasaram and Bihar Sharif which are headquarters of Rohtas and Nalanda districts respectively, have seen significant tensions following Ram Navami celebrations which led to open conflagration and heavy stone pelting.

PTI has reported that Section 144 has been imposed at Sasaram, where home minister Shah is to address a function on April 2.

Bihar Sharif too is under curfew.

-The WIre

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