November 26, 2025

Will Bengal Face Communal Distrubances In December?

By Linus Garg
First publised on 2022-11-11 07:26:43

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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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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.