Will Bengal Face Communal Distrubances In December?
Linus tackles things head-on. He takes sides in his analysis and it fits excellently with our editorial policy. No 'maybe's' and 'allegedly' for him, only things in black and white.
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By Linus Garg
First publised on 2022-11-11 07:26:43
About the Author
Linus tackles things head-on. He takes sides in his analysis and it fits excellently with our editorial policy. No 'maybe's' and 'allegedly' for him, only things in black and white.
View all posts by this Author
Bengal
chief minister Mamata Banerjee, repeated her allegation, more seriously on Thursday, at a meeting of
administrative officers in Nadia district that an attempt was being made to foment
communal tensions in the state and divide north Bengal. She had made the same
allegation a few weeks ago and had said that some people were planning to
create communal tensions in the state in December (December 6 is the day when
Babri Masjid was brought down by rampaging kar sevaks in 1992 and Hindutva
elements usually celebrate the day with misplaced fervour).
But on
Thursday, she further alleged that arms were being brought into the state from
neighbouring Bihar in preparation for the alleged attempt to create communal
tensions. She advised the district administration to keep strict vigil and
check even VIP cars, as she said that "some politicians are taking advantage of
VIP cover and carrying arms in their cars". She was obviously referring to BJP
leaders without naming them.
This is a
serious allegation. The district administration has to be on high alert as if
the chief minister is making these allegations she must be having intelligence
reports about the same. No one can be allowed to disturb peace and create
disharmony for their narrow political ends. If there is even an iota of truth
in the allegations, the BJP high command must step in and find out if its local
unit or other Hindutva organizations are actually planning any such thing and prevent them from going ahead with the ill-advised and disastrous move.
Apart from
minor disturbances, Bengal has an excellent record of communal harmony. The BJP
must understand that creating disturbances is not the route to gaining power in
Bengal. There are about 27% Muslims in Bengal and they have deep roots and have
been accepted in the Hindu-dominated society. The othering of Muslims will not
work in the state. The party needs to reorient its strategy if it wants to make
a mark in Bengal. Otherwise it will never win the trust of the people.
