Kolkata: The Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal faces severe criticism after state police arrested journalists from Madhyom media over their coverage of alleged attacks during Kali Puja celebrations. Opposition leaders and press freedom advocates have condemned the arrests, accusing the state government of a “fascist” approach aimed at silencing critical media voices.
West Bengal Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari hit out at the Mamata Banerjee-led All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) Government and alleged that a journalist was arrested on November 5 for covering vandalism at Kali Puja Pandal and blaming the West Bengal police for an attack on a peaceful procession during murti immersion.
In a post on X Suvendu Adhikari said, “Madhyom (https://madhyom.com ) is a West Bengal-based news portal which covers news & views and perspective on the present state of affairs in West Bengal. Recently the portal uploaded a video covering the vandalism at a Kali Puja Pandal at Dakshindari area (adjacent to Ultadanga) in Kolkata. The video got a substantial amount of views and is getting viral.”
Madhyom (https://t.co/pX7YnDWHHK) is a West Bengal based news portal which covers news & views and perspective on the present state of affairs in West Bengal.
Recently the portal uploaded a video covering the vandalism at a Kali Puja Pandal at Dakshindari area (adjacent to… pic.twitter.com/Bwob9HmlZU— Suvendu Adhikari (@SuvenduWB) November 5, 2024
West Bengal Police went to Madhyom’s office and they harassed the journalists who reported the attack on the Panadals of Kali Mata.
He further claimed that Sanatana Dharma is under attack in West Bengal and there was an attempt to suppress those voices.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhJx_EZi-q0&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.opindia.com%2F&source_ve_path=Mjg2NjQsMjM4NTE
“Mamata Police who failed to secure the Kali Puja Pandal and desecration of Maa Kali’s murti, arrested Journalist Ananyo Gupta today. It seems, his fault is that he was covering the truth. This is not just about Free Press, this is an attempt to suppress those voices which raise an alarm when the Sanatana Dharma is under attack in West Bengal,” he further said.
In the video, the journalist claimed that there were two incidents of desecration and blamed the TMC Government for the unrest. In the first incident, an murti was vandalised in the Dakshindari area for playing the loudspeakers at high volume. He said that although one person was arrested he was kept at a different location and not the prison. In the second incident, a peaceful group was attacked by a mob at Raja Baazar on November 1 night during murti immersion.
FIR Content
The police have filed an FIR in connection with a recent YouTube video. The points raised in the FIR are as follows:
Distortion of Facts (1)
The reporter in the YouTube video claimed that there was commotion between two groups (Hindus and Muslims) in the Dakshindari area over the playing of Shyama Sangeet on a microphone during Kali Puja, and that in the process, a Muslim mob broke the Maa Kali murti.
However, the police version of events is different. According to the police, a young Muslim boy, in a drunken state, went to meet his girlfriend at night. She lives behind the Kali Puja pandal. When he tried to call her through the window, which was located behind the Kali murti, a noise was heard and an alarm was raised. The boy then tried to escape but fell upon the Kali murti, causing it to be damaged. The police clarified that this was an individual act, not a result of group clashes. The boy was arrested and is currently in police custody.
Distortion of Facts (2)
The video report claimed that the arrested boy had been kept in a different police station, not in the Laketown police station.
However, the FIR confirms that the arrested person is indeed in Laketown police station, and the reporter’s statement is false.
Incorrect Footage
The police also raised concerns that the footage used in the video story does not show the actual place of occurrence.
Other Allegations in the FIR
The FIR alleges that the media outlet “Madhyom” is attempting to disrupt communal harmony by distorting facts.
The police claim that the story was manufactured, and even the phone conversation recorded in the video was fabricated. They further stated that there was no communal tension at the site.
Madhyom’s Explanation
In defence, Madhyom explained that the story was based on the ground reporting following a visit to the site. They clarified that it was not a fabricated report. The reactions included in the video were from local residents, with the Hindu community in the area reportedly too afraid to speak on camera.
This concludes the key points raised in the FIR, where the police have disputed the media report, asserting that the incident was isolated and not a communal clash as portrayed.
Smells like “Fish Fry Politics”: Suvendu Adhikari criticises Mamata Banerjee’s new appointment
In a scathing tweet, Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of Opposition in West Bengal, recently accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of engaging in what he described as “fish fry politics” aimed at splitting the Sanatani vote and aiding the Trinamool Congress in securing victories across 12 Parliamentary constituencies in the 2024 General Elections. The tweet has sparked intense political debate, drawing attention to the complex alliances and manipulative political strategies that have been playing out in the state.
SMELLS LIKE "FISH FRY POLITICS"
For splitting the Sanatani Votes & aiding the TMC Party emerge victorious in 12 Parliamentary Constituencies in the 2024 General Elections and for helping the WB Govt to get out of the claustrophobic situation by derailing the Spontaneous Public… pic.twitter.com/HnNAHSQUi4
— Suvendu Adhikari (@SuvenduWB) November 5, 2024
Suvendu Adhikari’s tweet also took aim at Mamata Banerjee’s decision to appoint Dr Abdus Sattar as her new Chief Advisor, claiming that this move was not only politically motivated but was a deliberate attempt to derail the spontaneous public movement surrounding the RG Kar Case. According to Adhikari, the appointment of Dr Sattar is an attempt to misdirect the agitation and prevent the issue from escalating, thus keeping the Government safe from political fallout.
In the past, the Mamata Banerjee Government has been accused of stifling the media’s voice, with one notable incident being the arrest of a journalist who criticized the administration. This was not an isolated case, as the government also filed FIRs against those who raised their voices against it, particularly in the aftermath of the tragic murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College. These actions reflect a broader pattern of trying to suppress dissent and control narratives that could tarnish the Government’s image.
