Violence in West Bengal continuing unabated under Mamata Banerjee's support: BJP

"Agitation against the new Citizenship Act is happening across the country. But, in West Bengal, it has transformed into anti-national activity. Illegal Bangladesh Muslim immigrants are indulging in violence, destroying national property and creating fear under the garb of protests... and our Chief Minister and her government remained mute spectators while the situation went from bad to worse. There has been no lathi charge, no arrests so far despite the large scale destruction of public properties, blockades and attacks," said Ghosh in a press conference at BJP office in Kolkata.

"There have been unabated attacks on Hindu villages, but Mamata Banerjee remained silent. It is a part of her plan to harass those who voted for us. She planned to let violence take over for three days and then get into the picture and appeal for peace," he alleged.

"Railway stations have been burnt, trains have been set on fire and there is the chance of more destruction as anti-social elements and people with vested interests are on the loose....and there is no role of the state government amid all this..the chief minister is not even asking Centre for help," the BJP MP said.

Hitting out at the state government for its alleged inability to control mob violence, he said, "If the state government doesn't protect the people then we will have no option. Lakhs of people in West Bengal have voted for us and we are dutybound to protect them. If these agitators flout laws then we will be forced to break laws....

"Even the chief minister is rubbishing the laws..she is using public money to advertise she will not allow CAB in West Bengal. A law that has been duly passed by both the houses of parliament and signed by the President is applicable in all parts of India. Is West Bengal outside India?" he questioned, attacking Mamata Banerjee's statement that the amended Citizenship Act will not be applicable in West Bengal.

"Has Paschim Banga become Paschim Banga Bangladesh? What she is saying is against the Constitution. She is flouting laws and so is unable to curb unlawful activities," he said.

"How can she speak against the Constitution being on a Constitutional post? She is speaking like that because she is trying to hide illegal Bangladeshi Muslim immigrants," he added.

"I don't know har far the law and order situation will deteriorate but things are extremely bad in various parts of  Malda, Murshidabad, Aurangabad and several other places. Hindu villages have been attacked, ransacked, set on fire and the police and administration did nothing to rescue them. We have received calls for help," he told the newsmen.

"I hope that the state government takes strict action to curb the violence before the situation goes out of hand, more property and lives are lost. Neither the people of the state nor BJP will keep mum the government doesn't control violence," Ghosh maintained.

"Today we held a meeting with our district presidents and we have decided unanimously that we will not be beaten up and tortured by anti-socials. The entire Hindu community will come together because the citizenship issue has been given a communal colour..it has been made a Hindu-Muslim issue," he said.

Reiterating that the amended law aims to filter out illegal Muslim immigrants from Bangladesh, Gosh said, "Indian Muslims have nothing to fear. They are the citizens of India and always will be, but the illegal Bangladeshi Muslim immigrants who have placed CPM, Congress and TMC in power, again and again, are the ones who are doing the violence."

Ghosh said BJP will hold meetings across districts in support of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019. There will be a mega procession in Kolkata on Dec 23 to congratulate Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Central government on the passing of the act. "At least 1 lakh people will participate in this rally," he added. A similar programme will be held in North Bengal on Dec 24, he added.

The state BJP leaders may meet Governor Jagdeep Dhankar to discuss the situation in the state, if the situation demands, he said. "As of now, we have appealed to the Governor to apprise the Centre as the Constitutional head of the state on the torture and violence being unleashed on the people in the name of CAA protests," he added.

"We are also sending pictures and videos of attacks on trains and railway stations to the Railway Ministry," he added.

Life has been disrupted in various parts of West Bengal as violent agitators burnt trains, railway stations, buses and blocked roads and railway tracks in the last three days. Fresh incidents were reported on Sunday as more railway stations were targetted and arterial roads across the state blocked.

In oder to curb the situation, the state government suspended Internet services in North Dinajpur, Malda, Murshidabad, Howrah, Barasat and Basirhat divisions of North 24 Parganas, besides Baruipur and Canning of South 24 Parganas.