Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has strongly condemned the deadly Jihadi attack on the time-honoured and celebrated Ram Navami procession at Murshidabad, calling it yet another terrorist episode and demanding an investigation by the NIA. VHP’s Central Joint General Secretary Dr Surendra Jain alleged that this attack was carried out by the Jihadis there under the patronage of the TMC, in which dozens of Hindus were injured and dozens critically injured are still lying in hospitals. To ensure a safe, secure, and self-esteemed life of the Hindu society, VHP has also announced to hold a state-wide protest against the terrorist incident and submit a memorandum to the Governor.
Dr.Jain said that the deadly Jihadi attack on the procession taking place on the holy occasion of Ram Navami at Murshidabad is very much a terrorist incident. Stones were pelted from rooftops, and bombs were hurled at Hindus participating in the procession, who were also attacked with swords. All this could not have been done with one day’s preparation. Preparations must have been going on for weeks. It is not possible that the TMC and its government were not aware of this conspiracy and anti-national agenda.
VHP alleges that this aggression was carried out by the Jihadis there under the patronage of TMC in which dozens of Hindus were injured and dozens critically injured are still lying in hospital.
He said that Mamata Banerjee was appealing for peace in every one of her meetings and expressing fear of riots on Ram Navami. In fact, it was a guise and pretext to goad and enflame the Muslim community. They had applied the same tactics last year also to get the Yatras attacked, when even after appealing for peace, more than 15 Yatras were attacked.
The Joint General Secretary of VHP said that it seems that Hindus of Bengal now have an existential threat as they cannot protect their three basics, namely, “Maa-Maati-Maanush” (“Mother-Land-People”). They have to take permission from the Hon’ble High Court for their Yatras. Even at many places, where the government gave permission, it was later withdrawn. In Jadavpur University, first giving permission and then withdrawing it, is a case in point.
He said that the Hindu society of Bengal can no longer accept and stand this anti-national, anti-Hindu ecology! It stood up to counter such unacceptable ecology and that is why lakhs of Ram devotees came to join the Ram Navami processions. The Hindus of Bengal have once again proved that whenever there is a revolution, it would start from Bengal and the saffron revolution has started from Bengal!
He announced that Vishva Hindu Parishad will fight it in every democratic way. We are going to the Hon’ble High Court and will demand that this terrorist attack be investigated by the NIA because the administration is in collusion and so cannot investigate its own actions. We will also meet the Hon’ble Governor and request him to use all available constitutional remedies to address the situation of Bengal and ensure the right of Hindus to live a life full of self-respect and security. On all these issues, we will lodge protests at every district centre; submit memorandum to the relevant constitutional authorities, including H.E. the Governor, and discuss measures to ensure the safe, secure and self-respectful living of the Hindu society.
In the aftermath of the incident in Murshidabad, tensions have escalated in West Bengal as BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, has launched scathing criticism against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Adhikari accused her of inciting violence and claimed that the police resorted to firing tear gas shells to disperse the Ram Navami processions.
According to Adhikari, the Ram Navami processions were disrupted and attacked in various parts of the state due to the provocative speech delivered by the Chief Minister. He alleged that Banerjee’s remarks successfully incited miscreants, who believed they had immunity from law enforcement due to the CM’s stance on the religious festival.
Mamata Banerjee is a blot on West Bengal. She, once again, failed to protect Ramanavami Shobha Yatras. Hindu devotees targeted in Rejinagar, Murshidabad. Hindus are a minority in this area. Just pointing it out, so that she doesn’t blame the Hindus for the attack on themselves… pic.twitter.com/pzvJt0aZ4x
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) April 17, 2024
Adhikari condemned Banerjee’s alleged remarks, claiming that she labelled Ram Navami as a day for rioting. He asserted that her comments had emboldened troublemakers, leading to disturbances during the processions. Adhikari’s statement reflects growing tensions between the BJP and the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal, especially in the context of religious festivals.
After filing a complaint against West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee for the statement that she made in Coochbehar, BJP leader Agnimitra Paul says, “The day before yesterday, she (Mamata Banerjee) while addressing Muslim brothers, said that those who celebrate Ramnavami tries to incite riots. How daring she is. She was inciting Muslim brothers so that riots could happen, and hence we came here to lodge an FIR… The duty officer said that I wouldn’t be able to lodge the FIR, after that, we blocked the roads, and half an hour later, IC came and received our complaint…”
#WATCH | Paschim Medinipur: After filing a complaint against West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee for the statement that she made in Coochbehar, BJP leader Agnimitra Paul says, "The day before yesterday, she (Mamata Banerjee) while addressing Muslim brothers said that those who… pic.twitter.com/H92gEZuj7m
— ANI (@ANI) April 17, 2024
It was in March 2023 that the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) rally through Howrah Shibpur was planned long before, an application for police permission was sought, and the receipt of such an application by the Howrah Police Commissionerate was in the public domain. However, the yatra was yet attacked by people belonging to a certain community. Stones were pelted, people were badly injured, and some bled profusely & had to get admitted to hospitals.
Yet, the yatra continued from the starting point to the end destination, and there was only one available route. Had the Shobha yatra had to go, it had only a single path to the specific destination as mentioned in the letter of application for police permission. The communal conflict escalated to a level when people’s shops and houses were being rampantly attacked, police cars and hawkers’ carts were arson, and acid and bombs were hurled while police stood like ‘mute spectators’.
Watching violence break out, West Bengal police had repeatedly assumed a silent, deactivated mode long before this incident. As per reports, the police could have prevented violence by using drones, etc., as people pelted stones from the rooftops of the houses on both sides of the road.
The fact-finding report mentioned that an MLA, Biman Ghosh, also suffered multiple injuries despite having CISF protection. This indicated the “intent & conduct of state police, which appears to be no less than tacitly supporting illegal and communal elements….”
The incident in Murshidabad and Adhikari’s strong reaction highlight the polarisation and political volatility prevailing in the state. As West Bengal gears up for crucial elections, such incidents and accusations are likely to intensify, setting the stage for a fiercely contested political battle.
