TMC-BJP slugfest over Cooch Behar violence

Shubhadeep Choudhury

Tribune News Service

Kolkata, April 11

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday launched a scathing attack against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of indulging in “appeasement politics” even in case of deaths.

At Shantipur in West Bengal, Shah said the death of four persons in firing by the central forces in Sitalkuchi was tragic.

“Unidentified people attacked a polling booth. They tried to snatch weapons from jawans. When the central forces fired shots in self-defence, four persons were killed,” he said.

The minister said what made the matter worse was the way the incident was being politicised. “I have seen Mamata’s statement. In the same booth, Anand Burman was murdered in the morning. He was killed by goons to stop polling. But Mamata paid homage to only those killed in firing by the central forces. She ignored Anand Burman,” Shah said after holding a roadshow in Shantipur. Stating that Mamata mourned those killed in firing because they were Muslims, Shah alleged that a tragedy was also treated as fodder by Mamata for votes.

“This shows how low she can stoop. We are saddened not only by Anand Burman’s death, but also the other four who died in firing. Mamata did not even mention him in any of her statements or paid him homage,” Shah said.

“Was it because Anand Burman was from the Rajbangshi community and not fit for her vote bank?” Shah asked.

The Home Minister said Mamata, while addressing an election rally at Sitalkuchi recently, advised people to gherao central forces, instigating them to attack them.

The Home Minister urged her to condole the death of first-time voter Anand Burman also and apologise to the people for the death of four persons. Earlier, Mamata spoke to the family members of the victims. She assured them of all help and said she would try to meet them on April 14.

BJP moves EC against TMC’s Sujata Mondal

• The BJP on Sunday urged the EC to take action against a Trinamool Congress leader and her party’s leadership for allegedly making disparaging remarks against Scheduled Castes by likening them to beggars.
• In a memorandum to the poll watchdog, a BJP delegation said TMC leader Sujata Mondal Khan had targeted the SC community for its support to the BJP and accused her of making insulting remarks against its members. TNS

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