West Bengal CM warns BJP against armed rallies

Kolkata: Warning BJP leaders, who had organised rallies across the state armed with swords and trishuls on Wednesday marking the occasion of Ram Navami, chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said that if political leaders and workers took to the streets with arms, then the administration would take legal action. 

“I have seen some leaders last night walking in rallies brandishing arms. These leaders are in the dark about Bengal’s culture and have no love for the state. If political leaders and workers rally with arms in their hands, law will take its own course. Whoever the person may be, law is the same for all,” Ms Banerjee said at a government programme in Purulia. 

The chief minister’s remarks came following the criticism of the intelligentsia of BJP, RSS and some Hindu groups for parading school children and teenage boys and girls with swords, axes, knives and machetes on Wednesday. 

“Only Sikhs have the right to carry kirpans in public and they enjoy legal exemption. If any other group hits the streets with weapons, action will be taken in accordance with the law. If one religious group carries weapons today, another will follow suit tomorrow. Are we supposed to witness sword clashes on our streets? I am not going to let this happen,” Ms Banerjee said. She also made it clear that her government will not tolerate any effort to create unrest by practising the politics of divide  and rule in Bengal. 

“We hold festivals all throughout the year and people have the right to take part in any festival. Bengal is a place where all communities, castes and creeds live in harmony. The BJP do not worship any god or goddess. Their main objective is to carry the saffron flag with the slogan of riot in their mouths. I respect all religions and that is Bengal’s culture,” the chief minister said. 

Ms Banerjee declared Manbazar and Jhalda as the new sub-divisions of Purulia district and inaugurated a few development projects. She announced a Rs 1200 crore water project funded by Japan based JAICA, that is expected to be complete within 18 months. She also laid  the foundation stone for a medical college and hospital at Purulia and inaugurated a 20-bed  SNCU at Raghunathpur Sub-Divisional Hospital in the district.