Malda violence: BJP demands central probe, Mamata says no commul tension

Kolkata, Jan 8: Accusing the West Bengal’s ruling Trimool Congress of being involved in the alleged commul violence in Malda district, the BJP on Friday demanded a central agency probe in the matter. Incidentally, the BJP’s demands came on a day when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, wooing investors for her industry-starved state, claimed there was no commul tension in Bengal. Protesting against remarks allegedly made to “hurt religious sentiments” in Uttar Pradesh, a large number of people on Sunday went on a rampage in Kaliachak, torching vehicles including those belonging to the Border Security Force and also attacked a police station. The central government has also sought a report from the Banerjee government over the issue.

The Bharatiya Jata Party which has already sought the intervention of West Bengal Governor K.N. Tripathi in the matter said the truth behind the incident can be revealed only after a probe by a central agency. “Using an incident that happened in Uttar Pradesh, which we condemn, a commul issue was created and it was used to set afire a police station. BSF vehicles, were also set on fire and few houses attacked in Malda,” said BJP tiol secretary Siddharth th Singh.

“The whole attack was made to look like a commul issue but actually it is rather a cover up by the Trimool. This is nothing but hoodwinking by the Trimool. So we demand a probe by a central agency,” he added. Speaking at the Bengal Global Business Summit, Banerjee during the day described Bengal as an ideal destition for investments asserting there was no commul tension. “Bengal is a peaceful state. There is no commul incident or tension. Some people may indulge in criticising us politically, but we don’t allow any commul problems. If there is peace, everything is settled,” she said. Police so far have arrested 10 people booking them for several offences including arson and damage to public property. Claiming that the attack on the police station was actually meant to destroy crimil records stored there, a BJP delegation led by tiol secretary Rahul Sinha on Thursday met the governor seeking his intervention in the matter.  (IANS)