Amid escalating tensions over post-poll violence, the West Bengal police on Thursday prohibited BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari from entering the Raj Bhawan to meet Governor C V Ananda Bose. Adhikari, who intended to meet the Governor with alleged victims of the violence, was stopped as their cars approached the Raj Bhawan premises. The police cited the enforcement of Section 144 of the CrPC outside the Governor's residence as the reason for blocking Adhikari’s convoy and the victims.
BJP and TMC Engage in Verbal Clash
Meanwhile, it is pertinent to note that the aftermath of the post poll violence incident has intensified the war of words between the BJP and the TMC. The BJP has accused the TMC of perpetrating post-poll violence, a claim the state's ruling party has denied.
Earlier, Adhikari in his allegations has stated that, "During the election process and after the results were declared, opposition political workers, especially BJP Bengal Karyakartas, are being targeted in West Bengal. This time, the grassroots BJP workers, polling and counting agents, and even vocal voters/supporters in rural and urban slum areas are facing the wrath of the ruling TMC party. As a responsible leader of the opposition, I have approached constitutional authorities like the Governor, NHRC, Women's Commission, ST & SC Commission, and the Home Secretary of the Government of India to inform them about the miserable conditions of thousands of BJP Karyakartas."
He added, "I have tried to make shelter homes functional for Karyakartas rendered homeless by the post-election violence. I have met thousands of distressed people in the past week and have tried to offer help within my limited capacity."
In contrast, TMC leader Kunal Ghosh refuted these allegations, stating, "Allegations of TMC unleashing post-poll violence are completely wrong. It is the other way around. TMC workers have been attacked, beaten up, and even killed in areas where the BJP has won the election. In Purba Medinipur district's Khejuri, our party workers have been beaten up and rendered homeless."
About post poll violence incident
It is pertinent to note that violence marred the final phase of Lok Sabha polls in Bengal, with a BJP worker being hacked to death by a group of men in Nadia district, as well as incidents of stone-pelting reported from Sandeshkhali, resulting in injuries to several people.
Earlier, elaborating on the violent incident in Sandeshkhali, a senior police official said local women in Agarhati village in the Sandeshkhali area got involved in a scuffle with the Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel, felled tree trunks, and blocked roads when the police personnel reached there in search of a few persons accused of attacking them on Saturday night.
"We have not arrested anyone, but local women have started protesting. Some of our female colleagues are injured. We are trying to talk to them and remove the barricades from the roads," the officer in Basirhat Police District said. "There was an attempt by local women to snatch the detained person, but the move was foiled, he added.
READ MORE | West Bengal Guv asks Mamata Banerjee to address post-poll violence in Sandeshkhali
READ MORE | NCW Chief writes to poll body, seeks approval to visit Sandeshkhali, other areas to probe post poll violence
READ MORE | 'I cannot wish unconstitutional, illegal party for forming government': Mamata lashes out at BJP
