Instead of curbing Muslim miscreants in border villages where they torched 300 houses and shops of the Hindus, CM Mamata is dragging Governor by blaming him frivolously for seeking report on the riots and shirking her responsibilities
Asim Kumar Mitra
West Bengal has suffered another spell of communal frenzy within a span of two months. After the Dhulagarh incident, hardly two months passed when Baduria, a place near Bangladesh border, under North 24-Parganas District, experienced similar shade of riots. At least 300 houses and shops belonging to the Hindus have been set on fire. Shops were looted, women molested and raped, 14 police-vehicles and reportedly 4 police stations set on fire, while 20 members of the police force including District Superintendent of Police, and Assistant Superintendent of Police were injured.
It all started when a facebook post with some incriminating comments against the Prophet of a particular community was circulated among people of the area. It is said that one Souvik Sarkar of Keuta Village allegedly wrote that post. No doubt, this infuriated a section of the society and they did whatever they liked.
The miscreants belonging to a particular community, armed with lethal weapons like swords, chopper, axe, etc. attacked the Hindus in Baduria, Bashirhat, Swarupnagar, Haroa, Deganga, Hingalgunj and Hasnabad. Before the hooligans could spread further Rapid Action Force was deployed. The administrative authorities switched off the internet service in these areas, as there were reports that the miscreants were getting help from the cross-border terrorists.
Apart from it, one should not forget that there have been a continuous clandestine propaganda by a section of Muslim population residing on the Bangladesh border to make certain Indian areas completely free of Hindu population. As Mamata was disproportionately sympathetic to a section of Muslims, they are utilising all opportunities available to them in this respect.
This time, Mamata wanted to camouflage the whole issue and made an arrangement to put a frivolous blame on the State Governor. If there is disturbance in any part of the State, it is his duty of the Governor to know the facts behind the incident and report them to the Centre. While performing his duty the Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi sought the report on communal tension in the District of North 24 Parganas and other areas. In return Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, “I am not an employee under him. So, I am not bound to abide by the order of the Governor. He is working like a block level president of BJP. Over and above he has insulted me. I am not going to tolerate it. At one point of time I was thinking to resign from the post of CM, so much was the intensity of the insult….”
The Governor was taken aback with this comment of the Chief Minister. He said: “I did not utter any word against her by which she could feel insulted. Let me put it on record that I have never threatened her on any account.” He said the Governor cannot remain a mute spectator to the affairs in the State. A statement issued from the Raj Bhavan said that the Governor asked the Chief Minister to ensure peace and law and order by all means. The statement said the Governor, being the head of the State, is the guardian of all the citizens and not of any particular party or section of society. It said that it was proper for the Governor to bring to the notice of the Chief Minister any serious grievance made by any member of public or any serious event happening in the State. “The Hon’ble Governor cannot remain a mute spectator to the affairs in the State,” it said.
Fact remains that even media, especially electronic media in their prime time news is harping on the gossips and imaginary theoretical discussion on CM and Governor relationship in the light of the Constitution of India. For all practical purposes the media barons of the State have sidelined the communal riots, rapes, torching the houses of Hindus and even the Police stations.
