'Is this democracy in Bengal?': BJP targets Mamata Banerjee over saffron party worker's killing
New Delhi/IBNS: In a latest faceoff with West Bengal's ruling dispensation Trinamool Congress (TMC), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday targeted Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the killing of a saffron party worker in the eastern state, raising questions over the law and order situation in the former Left citadel.
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra, who was addressing a press conference on the murder of his party worker Manish Shukla, said, "I want to ask Mamata Banerjee, is this the democracy in Bengal?"
"Murder has become a new normal in West Bengal," he also said.
LIVE: Dr @sambitswaraj addresses a press conference at BJP headquarters in New Delhi. https://t.co/hZ09xzZSJM
— BJP (@BJP4India) October 5, 2020
BJP worker Manish Shukla was shot at Titagarh in North 24 Parganas district on Sunday evening. He later succumbed to his injuries.
The saffron party has accused the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) of having a role in the murder.
In protest against the crime, the West Bengal unit of BJP called for a 12-hour bandh at Barrackpore on Monday.
Taking a dig at Banerjee's sending of a TMC delegation to Uttar Pradesh's Hathras where a 19-year old woman was gangraped and later died, Patra on Monday said, "When will she visit Manish Shukla's house? When will she send a TMC delegation to Manish Shukla's house?"
Not trusting the police of the state, BJP leader Mukul Roy has demanded an independent inquiry into the incident.
"The incident must be probed by an independent agency otherwise we all know what would be the result. The state is going to polls in 2021. People will give the justice," said Roy.
Meanwhile, the West Bengal Police has put up a tweet stating it is investigating all possible reasons including personal enmity behind the murder and asked people not to jump into any conclusion.
It tweeted, "A person was shot dead last evening in Titagarh area of Barrackpore. Police is investigating the crime and looking into all possible reasons including personal enmity because the victim was accused in some cases of murder and attempt of murder.."
"Please do not jump on conclusion without proper investigation. Irresponsible comments on social media tantamount to interference in the investigation. Please refrain from this."
Please do not jump on conclusion without proper investigation. Irresponsible comments on social media tantamount to interference in the investigation. Please refrain from this (2/2)
— West Bengal Police (@WBPolice) October 5, 2020
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.