BJP calls for President's Rule in West Bengal to contain riots

Kolkata: Seeking chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s immediate resignation, the West Bengal BJP on Wednesday demanded President’s Rule in the state. State BJP president Dilip Ghosh said at a press meet, “The Mamata Banerjee government has failed in every aspect, be it education or health or industry or even administration. The chief minister’s statement on Tuesday proved that she has lost all hope, which is why she said she wanted to step down.”

He added, “So we think it is no more your (Trinamul Congress) job to run the government. West Bengal is going to hell gradually. The state will suffer more damage if the party remains in power. Ms Banerjee should quit at the earliest. We demand to the Centre to enforce Article 356 of the Constitution and impose the President’s Rule soon to save West Bengal.” The Kharagpur MLA informed that he would write to the Union Home Ministry and to the Prime Minister’s Office seeking the President’s rule in the state.

He also urged the Centre to send observers to analyze and assess the law and order situation in the state. Accusing the Trinamul government of pursuing “politics of appeasement” to maintain its minority votebank, Mr Ghosh alleged, “The incident at Baduria is enough proof of appeasement politics by the ruling party. Houses and other property of members of the Hindu community were torched and looted but the police remained a mute spectator.”

He claimed, “It was only when the Governor intervened that Central forces were asked for and deployed. The riots were allowed to take place just for the sake of vote bank politics. It is well known that West Bengal has turned into a safe haven for the jihadis. The jihadis are using various religious institutions across the borders as breeding grounds for anti-nationals.” Meanwhile, BJP leader Rahul Sinha wanted a public apology from the chief minister for her unprecedented attack on the
governor.