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NEW DELHI: The attack on ED officers in West Bengal has once again put the spotlight on law and order situation in West Bengal with the state governor Dr C V Ananda Bose issuing a stern warning to the Mamata Banerjee‘s Trinamool Congress government. The governor also summoned state home secretary and director general of police (DGP) in connection with the incident.
“Bengal is not a banana republic.It is the duty of a civilised government to stop barbarism and vandalism in a democracy. If a govt fails in its basic duty, then the Constitution of India will take its course. As governor, I reserve all my constitutional options for appropriate action at the appropriate moment. Flexing muscles and parading paper tigers will not work with the people of Bengal. Jungle raaj and goondagiri will work in a fool’s paradise. Government should do its duty,” the governor said in a strongly-worded recorded speech.
An Enforcement Directorate (ED) team was attacked and its vehicles damaged in Sandeshkhali village of North 24 Parganas in West Bengal when it tried to raid the residence of block-level leaders of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in connection with an alleged ration scam case. As per reports, the ED was conducting raids at the residence of former Bongaon Municipality Chairman Shankar Adhya in Bangaon and TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan’s house.
The supporters of Trinamool leader Sheikh Sajahan first gheraoed the officers and the central forces personnel who accompanied them when they reached Sheikh’s residence in Sandeshkhali area in the morning and demonstrated before assaulting them and forcing them to leave the area, according to ED officials.
Sajahan is considered to be a close aide of state minister Jyotipriyo Mallick who was arrested in connection with the multi-crore ration distribution scam.
‘Effect of provocation’
Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Kunal Ghosh said that the attack on the team of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was an “effect of provocation”. The TMC leader alleged that the Central agency is working against leaders of his party at the behest of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
“What happened in Sandeskhali was an effect of provocation. In West Bengal, central agencies and forces on the instructions of the BJP are going to the residence of one or the other TMC leader or workers to harass, spread negative statements and provoke people. We are receiving such allegations and that’s what happened in Sandeshkhali yesterday,” Ghosh said.
The Trinamool leader questioned why raids were not conducted at the residence of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, who was once branded as a ‘thief” by his own party.
“BJP had called Suvendu Adhikari a thief but there was no raid at his residence, they only conduct raids at TMC leaders’ residence…” the TMC leader added.
‘BJP demands NIA probe’
West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar has written a letter to Union home minister Amit Shah demanding NIA probe into the attack.
“Given the severity and nature of this attack, I earnestly request your immediate intervention in initiating an NIA investigation into the incident,” Majumdar has written in his letter.
The BJP leader, in his letter, claimed that Calcutta high court judge Abhijeet Ganguly had said in court that this is a constitutional crisis and the governor must intervene and implement President’s rule.
Majumdar also sought deployment of paramilitary forces in the area.
‘Rohingyas also involved in attack’
BJP leader and West Bengal leader of the opposition (LoP) Suvendu Adhikari has alleged that illegal Rohingya infiltrators were part of goons which attacked ED team and CAPF personnel while they attempted to raid the residence of TMC leader Sheikh Sajahan at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district.
Adhikari said that he had personally updated Union home minister Amit Shah about the entire episode and asked him to take strong action against the attackers.
‘Attack on Constitution, federal structure’
Union minister Nisith Pramanik called the incident an attack on the Constitution and the whole federal structure.
“We condemn the incident which took place in Sandeshkhali of the North 24 Parganas in West Bengal. Whenever a central agency goes to a state upon the direction of the court and gets attacked, nothing is more condemnable than this,” Pramanik said.
“It is not just an attack on a central agency, rather it is an attack on the Constitution and the whole federal structure,” he added.
‘Won’t be surprised if … ‘
And its not just the BJP that is attacking the Trinamool Congress government. Its ally at the Centre the Congress has also slammed the law and order situation in the state.
Senior Congress leader and state president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said he would not be surprised if any official is ‘murdered’ in the state. “After the attack by goons of the ruling government on ED officials, it is clear that there is no law and order in the state. Today, they were injured, tomorrow they can be murdered. Such a thing would not come as a surprise to me,” he said.
(With inputs from agencies)
“Bengal is not a banana republic.It is the duty of a civilised government to stop barbarism and vandalism in a democracy. If a govt fails in its basic duty, then the Constitution of India will take its course. As governor, I reserve all my constitutional options for appropriate action at the appropriate moment. Flexing muscles and parading paper tigers will not work with the people of Bengal. Jungle raaj and goondagiri will work in a fool’s paradise. Government should do its duty,” the governor said in a strongly-worded recorded speech.
An Enforcement Directorate (ED) team was attacked and its vehicles damaged in Sandeshkhali village of North 24 Parganas in West Bengal when it tried to raid the residence of block-level leaders of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in connection with an alleged ration scam case. As per reports, the ED was conducting raids at the residence of former Bongaon Municipality Chairman Shankar Adhya in Bangaon and TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan’s house.
The supporters of Trinamool leader Sheikh Sajahan first gheraoed the officers and the central forces personnel who accompanied them when they reached Sheikh’s residence in Sandeshkhali area in the morning and demonstrated before assaulting them and forcing them to leave the area, according to ED officials.
Sajahan is considered to be a close aide of state minister Jyotipriyo Mallick who was arrested in connection with the multi-crore ration distribution scam.
‘Effect of provocation’
Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Kunal Ghosh said that the attack on the team of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was an “effect of provocation”. The TMC leader alleged that the Central agency is working against leaders of his party at the behest of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
“What happened in Sandeskhali was an effect of provocation. In West Bengal, central agencies and forces on the instructions of the BJP are going to the residence of one or the other TMC leader or workers to harass, spread negative statements and provoke people. We are receiving such allegations and that’s what happened in Sandeshkhali yesterday,” Ghosh said.
The Trinamool leader questioned why raids were not conducted at the residence of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, who was once branded as a ‘thief” by his own party.
“BJP had called Suvendu Adhikari a thief but there was no raid at his residence, they only conduct raids at TMC leaders’ residence…” the TMC leader added.
‘BJP demands NIA probe’
West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar has written a letter to Union home minister Amit Shah demanding NIA probe into the attack.
“Given the severity and nature of this attack, I earnestly request your immediate intervention in initiating an NIA investigation into the incident,” Majumdar has written in his letter.
The BJP leader, in his letter, claimed that Calcutta high court judge Abhijeet Ganguly had said in court that this is a constitutional crisis and the governor must intervene and implement President’s rule.
Majumdar also sought deployment of paramilitary forces in the area.
‘Rohingyas also involved in attack’
BJP leader and West Bengal leader of the opposition (LoP) Suvendu Adhikari has alleged that illegal Rohingya infiltrators were part of goons which attacked ED team and CAPF personnel while they attempted to raid the residence of TMC leader Sheikh Sajahan at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district.
Adhikari said that he had personally updated Union home minister Amit Shah about the entire episode and asked him to take strong action against the attackers.
‘Attack on Constitution, federal structure’
Union minister Nisith Pramanik called the incident an attack on the Constitution and the whole federal structure.
“We condemn the incident which took place in Sandeshkhali of the North 24 Parganas in West Bengal. Whenever a central agency goes to a state upon the direction of the court and gets attacked, nothing is more condemnable than this,” Pramanik said.
“It is not just an attack on a central agency, rather it is an attack on the Constitution and the whole federal structure,” he added.
‘Won’t be surprised if … ‘
And its not just the BJP that is attacking the Trinamool Congress government. Its ally at the Centre the Congress has also slammed the law and order situation in the state.
Senior Congress leader and state president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said he would not be surprised if any official is ‘murdered’ in the state. “After the attack by goons of the ruling government on ED officials, it is clear that there is no law and order in the state. Today, they were injured, tomorrow they can be murdered. Such a thing would not come as a surprise to me,” he said.
(With inputs from agencies)
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