Smriti Irani, Federal Minister for Women and Child Development, launched an attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday for the violence during a Ram Navami procession in Howrah, accusing her of providing a pass to those who threw stones during the procession.
“Stone pelting happened during Ram Navami’s procession in Howrah. Instead of delivering justice Mamata Bandopadhyay (Banerjee) gave a clean chit to stone pelters who took the law into their hands and attacked the Shobha Yatra of Ram Navami,” Irani alleged. “The question is how long will Mamata keep attacking the Hindu community…” she added.
Irani further stated, “This is not the first event that happened during the term of Mamata. Earlier in 2022, on Lakshmi Puja, when Dalits were performing puja they were attacked. At that time also she was quiet.”
Earlier in the day, numerous vehicles were set on fire in Howrah when two groups clashed during Ram Navami celebrations. Rioters destroyed public and private property and set fire to vehicles during the parade.
Following the violence in Howrah during Ram Navami celebrations, the West Bengal government handed over the investigation to the Criminal Investigation Department on Friday (CID). The probe has been launched by a special team led by Inspector General of Police, CID Sunil Choudhury.
Earlier, Federal Home Minister Amit Shah called with West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose and assessed the situation in Howrah, where violence erupted.
Shah also spoke with West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar about the state’s law and order issue.
The West Bengal BJP president wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday, requesting an NIA investigation into the violence in Howrah during Ram Navami celebrations.
Following the violence in West Bengal’s Howrah during Ram Navami celebrations, Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of the Opposition in the State Legislative Assembly and a BJP leader, filed a PIL in Calcutta High Court on Friday, seeking an NIA investigation and the immediate deployment of Central Forces in the violence-affected areas.
