The Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party on April 18 blamed each other for the violence during the Ram Navami celebration at Murshidabad district in West Bengal a day earlier.
Crude bombs exploded at Shaktipur area of Beldanga during a Ram Navami procession on April 17, injuring several persons, including police personnel. The Election Commission of India had sought a report from the district administration and the report was sent Thursday evening.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee blamed the BJP for the violence. “Everything was pre-planned. The DIG (Deputy Inspector General of Police) of Murshidabad was removed a day ahead of Ram Navami so that you [the BJP] can carry out the violence,” Ms. Banerjee said at an election rally in Raiganj Lok Sabha constituency.
The Chief Minister had earlier raised objections to the transfer of the DIG of Murshidabad and had said that if there were riots during Ram Navami, the Election Commission would have to bear responsibility. During her address, Ms. Banerjee also raised questions on why people participating in Ram Navami processions were carrying arms.
Many of the Ram Navami processions in the State were led by Trinamool leaders contesting the Lok Sabha polls.
The BJP leadership blamed Ms. Banerjee for the violence. “The Ram Navami processions were disrupted and attacked at various places across the State of West Bengal, due to the CM’s provocative speech, which successfully incited miscreants, who were assured that the law enforcement agency won’t act against them,” Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly Suvendhu Adhikari said.
Mr. Adhikari sought the intervention of the Governor and EC to “take action against the Chief Minister, whose provocation led to such untoward incidents”. The BJP leader also added that, like last year, he would approach the court seeking an investigation by the National Investigation Agency into the violence.
Mr. Adhikari and BJP leader Amit Malaviya tweeted videos of the violence from their social media handles.
Last year, violence was reported during Ram Navami processions at Howrah, Risha and Dalkhola. The Calcutta High Court had directed a probe by the NIA into the violence, following which several arrests were made.
Congress leader and Baharampur Lok Sabha MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury also blamed the Chief Minister for the violence. “ It is all because of the Chief Minister. She is not an astrologer yet she could predict violence,” the Congress leader said.
On Wednesday night, Mr. Chowdhury faced protests from BJP supporters when he arrived at Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital to meet the injured.
