Ever since Mamata Banerjee government took over, the TMC party workers have been targeting BJP workers and making life miserable for Bengali Hindus who voted for the saffron party. It is high time that they are booked and law and order is restored
Bhaskar Mandal, Bengal BJP, SC Morcha Secretary, is a man with a mission. His heart is filled with grief and frustration is apparent on his face as he has witnessed how the Hindu community and workers of the saffron party have been at the receiving end of Trinamool goons in far-off obscure places of the State. .
Shri Mandal came over to Delhi recently to discuss with senior BJP leaders on what needs to be done in Bengal. The State saw a pitched electoral battle between the BJP and Trinamool. After elections, the government should have acted with responsibility to ensure that opposition members were not targeted. For the outsider it might seem that the State is functioning as usual but shocking atrocities are being committed against the peace loving educated community of Bengali Hindus as the Mamata Banerjee leadership is looking the other way as Muslim fundamentalists continue to target them with impunity. The police is acting as mute spectator.
A visibly concerned Mandal, who has faced life-threatening moments while campaigning in Bengal, was accompanied by a large contingent of more than 50 people who had migrated to Delhi after the post-poll violence.
In a freewheeling interview with Organiser’s reporter Yatharth Sikka, Bhaskar Mandal explains the reason for Trinamool’s ascendancy, Islamic jihadi organissations ensuring that Mulims voted completely in favour of Muslim appeasing TMC and most importantly that post-poll victory has made life increasingly difficult for Bengali Hindus.
Excerpts from an interview
Do you think the post-poll violence in Bengal was planned? Was this a systematic attack on the opposition party workers by TMC after the victory in Assembly elections which has sent shockwaves around Bengal?
In a planned way, a vicious attack was launched against opponents of TMC. In Assembly elections in Bengal, you must have heard that Mamata Banerjee, Abhishek Banerjee and other Trinamool leaders had made a slogan against truth that became a casualty. Lies were parroted as gospel truth. Never have we witnessed in Bharat such gruesome acts of violence orchestrated against the opposition.members. Such spine chilling violence has never been seen after the Partition. In Bengal, four to five lakh beleaguered families have been forced to migrate. They are in great economic distress. They don’t even have a glass to drink water. A big conspiracy has been hatched to change the demographics of the State.
Who were the people involved in spreading the violence? Did they belong to any particular party or any community?
Community is an issue. The Bengal elections saw a huge polarisation between Hindu and Muslim voters. It was Hindu versus Muslims all the way. Hindu voters did not consolidate. Trinamool reaped the benefit as 30 per cent Muslims voted en masse for it. Result is now before everyone. What I suspect is that behind this victory was a big conspiracy to throw Hindus out of Bengal. As a result, we neither have the government nor the police that addresses legitimate grievances (of the Hindu community). In fact, big jihadi organisations are backing Trinamool. .
Your party alleged that your female polling agents were gang raped by TMC workers. What were the kind of atrocities committed on you and other BJP workers in the post-poll violence and why were they targeted?
For five years I have been living outside my home. I have been in Bengal but could not return to my village. In this volatile region, Hindus and Muslims are equally segregated. Both are 50 per cent in terms of population. Due to the lurking threat, I could not return to my village. I have been attacked, my house bore the brunt. My family members – Bhuda Ma, Bhaiya – kisi ko bhi nahi chodda (Old mother, brother nobody was spared).
First I was attacked during the 2016 elections. So, twice or thrice when I had a desire to meet my family members I had to travel home in the dead of the night. But I had to shortly flee; otherwise I would have been murdered..Whenever I move around Bengal I am targeted. So far, five and six attacks have been made against me. This time violence was unprecedented. On May 2, when election results were announced after 12 In the afternoon, one was anxious to know which party would capture power in Bengal. Nobody knew which party would form the government. As soon as results started trickling in, BJP workers were systematically attacked. From 5 p.m. onwards, the TMC cadre raided homes of BJP workers in trucks, They parked trucks near their homes, looted whatever they could find, misbehaved with men and women were also shamed. The horror was unimaginable. Even ABVP students were made to do naked dances. It humiliates me to narrate all these demeaning acts against women and young karyakartas.
A 900-member village which voted in favour of BJP, was savagely attacked. Electricity was cut out, cooker water was thrown out..People were thrown out of their homes. They were asked to pay a compensation of Rs 50,000.because their sin was to vote for BJP.
First I was attacked during the 2016 elections. So, twice or thrice when I had a desire to meet my family members I had to travel home in the dead of the night. But I had to shortly flee; otherwise I would have been murdered..Whenever I move around Bengal I am targeted. So far, five and six attacks have been made against me
What has the police done so far?
During the past three years, false cases have been lodged against BJP workers or Communist. Ruling politicians ensured that under the pretext of trumped-up charges, the opposition was thrown behind bars. Many workers lost their lives while undergoing imprisonment.
West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankar has given a sharp notice to Mamata Banerjee on post-poll violence. He has also visited the areas affected by violence. What do you expect from him and Prime Minister Narendra Modi?
I have full faith in the Governor as well as Prime Minister Narendra Modiji. They must be contemplating something productive for the benefit of the people of Bengal. With folded hands, I want to request the PM, President and Governor to quickly announce a package for Hindus of Bengal. Didi does politics right from eating to sleeping. I want to tell Didi, who has been elected as Chief Minister for the third time, that as CM she should treat everyone equally and not see people as pro or anti-TMC. She needs to put a stop to divisive politics and focus on maintaining law and order. You are Chief Minister of a State. Otherwise the janta of Bengal would not forgive you .
What BJP is doing for the safety of Bengali Hindus and its party workers. You are the main opposition in Bengal and have power at the Centre yet Hindus in Bengal are facing atrocities. Why?
In Bengal, 18 MPs have won, many Trinamool MPs joined BJP. In a State, where the winning candidates are not safe, how can we expect that ordinary workers are not targeted.
It is seen that women were being targeted in huge numbers. They were raped, thrashed, beaten on streets and even migrated after the post-poll violence.
The reports I have with me right now claim that more than 2,000 women were attacked in Cooch Bihar, Kosaba, Sunderbans. These places were chosen as the media and the police could not reach there. Workers of the BJP and other parties were harassed; forcing them to abandon their homes. Those left behind were killed and then their women were insulted. So far, four lakh have migrated from Bengal.
Bengal BJP leaders are saying that Bengal is now becoming Kashmir. Bengali Hindus are facing similar exodus that once Kashmiri Pandits faced. Bengali Hindus are also migrating to save their lives. How many people have migrated after the post-poll violence?
The fact of the matter is that Bengal’s condition is worse than Kashmir. I can vouch for the fact that Bengali Hindus in today’s times are facing a situation which even Kashmiri Hindus may not have faced (in late 1980s). They have to leave their homes, properties, families, mothers and sisters. The situation is so bad that Hindus of Bengal are appealing, as can be seen on Facebook and videos, to the Supreme Court to allow them to commit suicide. We don’t have anything left. We don’t have any other option. Their only fault is that they sided with BJP. I want to ask the Central government, Governor, and Opposition parties to unite and save Hindus of Bengal. They should do this for insaniyat (humanity)..They have to raise their voice in Parliament. I have on record 4 lakh families who have fled the State to Jharkhand and Tripura..
What is the current situation in Bengal?
Ten minutes ago, I learnt that in 142 Falta, South 24 Pargana constituency, 35 or 40 families have been attacked. Even now looting is going on indiscriminately. Therefore, I am appealing to everyone to please save them. They should have the right to live.
