TMC MP accuses Union Minister of inciting violence in Bengal by posting fake photos
Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member Saket Gokhale has accused BJP leader and Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar of “inciting communal riots” in West Bengal by posting fake photographs on X.
Gokhale alleged that Majumdar was following the orders of Home Minister Amit Shah, who is desperate to win next year’s Assembly elections in West Bengal.
“In a shocking turn of events, a Union Minister in the Government of India has been caught red-handed trying to incite communal riots in West Bengal,” Gokhale wrote on X this morning while reproducing the alleged post deleted by Majumdar subsequently.
“It is clear that the minister was inciting riots in Bengal on the orders of Shah. It’s a toolkit — use ministers to incite tensions and then use that as an excuse to send Central Forces to Bengal,” Gokhale wrote.
“Will Shah pull up his Union Minister? Or will he try new dirty tactics now in his desperation for Bengal elections next year?” the TMC MP wrote.
Protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act had turned violent in Murshidabad district of West Bengal and claimed three lives.
Gokhale accused Majumdar of posting a series of photos of violence from other states (including BJP states) on the microblogging site on Sunday.
“He (Majumdar) claimed that these were photos of ‘Muslims being violent during Hindu festivals in Bengal’,” Gokhale wrote.
The TMC MP alleged that the spreading of “fake news” by Majumdar was exposed by several people following which Majumdar deleted the post.
When the state was gripped by communal tension, Majumdar was actively trying to create a rift between communities and incite riots, Gokhale alleged.
“You knowingly posted fake photos with the intention of fuelling riots. As a minister, aren’t you ashamed of committing a crime to destabilise law and order?” Gokhale wrote on X.
“You deleted your tweet after being caught. As a Union Minister, why haven’t you apologised for sharing fake communal propaganda that could spark violence? Or was that your intention all along, thinking you wouldn’t get caught?” he added.
Gokhale also questioned the media’s silence over Majumdar’s post and its subsequent deletion. “Is there no accountability expected from a Union Minister?” he asked.
