Mamata Banerjee says attackers of Hindi-speaking migrants in Gujarat have been provocated
There was ‘provocation’ behind the attacks on Hindi-speaking migrants in Gujarat, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged on Tuesday, adding the situation in the state was a ‘very dangerous trend.’ She further said she was ‘scared’ of the situation in Gujarat and blamed the BJP government in the state for failing to control it.
Talking to reporters at the secretariat in Kolkata, the West Bengal chief minister said, “this (the attacks) is a very dangerous trend. A disastrous situation. The problem is very serious ... I do not understand why the BJP (government in Gujarat) is not controlling all these.”
A strong critic of the saffron party, Banerjee added “there was of course provocation behind the act. The people are scared and they are fleeing and leaving the state. There are so many families staying there for many years and now they have chosen that state as their home. All the people are scared.”
Banerjee alleged that the party is only creating confusion and communal tension among the people.
"They (BJP) only create confusion among the people and create communal tension where people are living in a peaceful manner. The BJP-ruled states are dangerous now," she said.
The chief minister also demanded the Gujarat Police to arrest those accused in the attacks.
"Police must arrest the accused persons and they must take action as per the law. That is the system. I do not understand why they have arrested more than 370 people," she said.
Sporadic incidents of violence against Hindi-speaking people have been witnessed in six districts of Gujarat, following the alleged rape of a 14-month-old girl in Sabarkantha on September 28.
A labourer hailing from Bihar and working in a ceramic factory in Sabarkantha, Ravindra Sahu, has been arrested by the police for the alleged rape.
On being asked if the situation in Gujarat was an attempt at polarisation, Banerjee said, “do you think polarisation means it is about a particular caste or creed or religion? If we are united, the country is strong. If we are divided, the country will fall. This is an open situation. We should not divide our people like this."
