NEW DELHI: West Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose on Friday visited Malda to meet the Murshidabad riot-affected victims, who had to flee the district after violent clashes occurred during the anti-Waqf law protest last week.
The governor, after the visit, claimed that women told him "they were intimidated" and that "miscreants came into their houses and they were physically assaulted, abusive words were used".
Assuring proactive action, Bose said he had a detailed discussion with the victims in the camp where they have been staying as a temporary arrangement.
"I met the family members who are in this camp. I had a detailed discussion with them. I listened to their grievances and understood their feelings. They also informed me of their requirements. Certainly, proactive action will be taken," the West Bengal governor, who ignored CM Mamata Banerjee 's request to postpone the visit, told news agency ANI.
According to several reports, Bose is set to visit Murshidabad on Saturday, where the violence broke out, killing three people and injuring several others.
'Cannot move freely'
Displaced residents taking refuge at a relief camp set up on the premises of Parlalpur High School in Malda claimed they were being "confined" and barred from leaving the campus or contacting their relatives.
Tensions reportedly rose at the camp in Baishnabnagar when police restricted journalists from entering during the visit of Bose. The move sparked protests from the displaced people, who expressed frustration over the lack of communication and transparency.
"We have been confined by police here and cannot move freely," alleged one of the camp inmates, according to ANI.
"We are not allowed to go out or interact with our relatives here. We do not know why the media is not allowed inside when the governor is here and talking to us. We want the world to know about our talks with him," the inmate alleged.
NCW claims women 'molested'
A team from the National Commission for Women (NCW), headed by chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar, also visited the Malda relief camp. The delegation reviewed the condition of women who were affected by the violence that followed anti-Waqf law protests .
Expressing shock at the situation faced by the displaced women, Rahatkar said: "I have met and interacted with women and children here at the camp. They have shared the situations they had faced. These women and children faced a lot of problems and they were forcibly evicted. What they had gone through is beyond imagination."
NCW member Archana Majumdar, who accompanied Rahatkar, alleged that the women were molested and forcibly thrown out of their homes.
"It is the duty of the state government to protect them. What are they doing? Is the TMC government planning to turn West Bengal into a second Bangladesh?" Majumdar said, lashing out at the state administration’s handling of the crisis.
VHP demands President's rule
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) announced plans to hold a nationwide protest on Saturday, demanding the imposition of President's rule in the state. The Hindu outfit's president Alok Kumar said that the organisation’s members and supporters will stage dharnas at district headquarters across the country to protest the unrest in Murshidabad.
"We will give memoranda to the district magistrates demanding that the central government contemplate the imposition of President's rule in West Bengal ," Kumar told news agency PTI.
Referring to a meeting between West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Muslim clerics, Kumar noted her remark that the Murshidabad violence was "pre-planned."
"If it is pre-planned, did the state intelligence agencies give any prior information to her government? And if not, who is responsible for such failure?" he asked. "If there was any report, why were precautionary measures to prevent the violence not taken?" Kumar added.
Cracks in INIDA bloc?
While the Trinamool Congress (TMC) accused the BJP of doing "politics" instead of taking appropriate steps, its ally Congress has planned a visit to the affected areas, which might not go well with Mamata.
Kalyan Banerjee on Friday attacked Union home minister Amit Shah and accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of doing "politics" instead of taking appropriate steps.
"They (BJP) have been demanding President's rule (in West Bengal) since 2019. This is their routine demand. We do not give this demand any importance. The matter (Bengal violence) is going on in the High Court. The High Court is satisfied with the steps taken by us. The situation was definitely bad, but it has improved due to the steps taken by the state government and the state government also took the help of central paramilitary forces. All forces worked together and peace has been restored," Banerjee told ANI on the Murshidabad Violence.
He further stated that all forces had worked together, and peace had been restored in the city.
"Everything is normal in Murshidabad district... BJP is trying to do politics. Amit Shah is also engaging in politics instead of taking the necessary steps...They hatched a plan to indulge in riots," he added.
Meanwhile, a delegation of the Congress, led by its West Bengal unit president Subhankar Sarkar, will visit riot-affected Shamsherganj in Murshidabad district on Saturday and review the situation there.
During the visit to Shamsherganj around 2 PM, Sarkar will be accompanied by Malda Dakshin MP Isha Khan Choudhury, AICC observer Amba Prasad and other party leaders, he said.
"We will go to the riot-hit areas of Shamsherganj and those around it tomorrow. We also have plans to visit other areas where there was violence," the Congress party official told PTI.
The governor, after the visit, claimed that women told him "they were intimidated" and that "miscreants came into their houses and they were physically assaulted, abusive words were used".
Assuring proactive action, Bose said he had a detailed discussion with the victims in the camp where they have been staying as a temporary arrangement.
"I met the family members who are in this camp. I had a detailed discussion with them. I listened to their grievances and understood their feelings. They also informed me of their requirements. Certainly, proactive action will be taken," the West Bengal governor, who ignored CM Mamata Banerjee 's request to postpone the visit, told news agency ANI.
According to several reports, Bose is set to visit Murshidabad on Saturday, where the violence broke out, killing three people and injuring several others.
'Cannot move freely'
Displaced residents taking refuge at a relief camp set up on the premises of Parlalpur High School in Malda claimed they were being "confined" and barred from leaving the campus or contacting their relatives.
Tensions reportedly rose at the camp in Baishnabnagar when police restricted journalists from entering during the visit of Bose. The move sparked protests from the displaced people, who expressed frustration over the lack of communication and transparency.
"We have been confined by police here and cannot move freely," alleged one of the camp inmates, according to ANI.
"We are not allowed to go out or interact with our relatives here. We do not know why the media is not allowed inside when the governor is here and talking to us. We want the world to know about our talks with him," the inmate alleged.
NCW claims women 'molested'
A team from the National Commission for Women (NCW), headed by chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar, also visited the Malda relief camp. The delegation reviewed the condition of women who were affected by the violence that followed anti-Waqf law protests .
Expressing shock at the situation faced by the displaced women, Rahatkar said: "I have met and interacted with women and children here at the camp. They have shared the situations they had faced. These women and children faced a lot of problems and they were forcibly evicted. What they had gone through is beyond imagination."
NCW member Archana Majumdar, who accompanied Rahatkar, alleged that the women were molested and forcibly thrown out of their homes.
"It is the duty of the state government to protect them. What are they doing? Is the TMC government planning to turn West Bengal into a second Bangladesh?" Majumdar said, lashing out at the state administration’s handling of the crisis.
VHP demands President's rule
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) announced plans to hold a nationwide protest on Saturday, demanding the imposition of President's rule in the state. The Hindu outfit's president Alok Kumar said that the organisation’s members and supporters will stage dharnas at district headquarters across the country to protest the unrest in Murshidabad.
"We will give memoranda to the district magistrates demanding that the central government contemplate the imposition of President's rule in West Bengal ," Kumar told news agency PTI.
Referring to a meeting between West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Muslim clerics, Kumar noted her remark that the Murshidabad violence was "pre-planned."
"If it is pre-planned, did the state intelligence agencies give any prior information to her government? And if not, who is responsible for such failure?" he asked. "If there was any report, why were precautionary measures to prevent the violence not taken?" Kumar added.
Cracks in INIDA bloc?
While the Trinamool Congress (TMC) accused the BJP of doing "politics" instead of taking appropriate steps, its ally Congress has planned a visit to the affected areas, which might not go well with Mamata.
Kalyan Banerjee on Friday attacked Union home minister Amit Shah and accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of doing "politics" instead of taking appropriate steps.
"They (BJP) have been demanding President's rule (in West Bengal) since 2019. This is their routine demand. We do not give this demand any importance. The matter (Bengal violence) is going on in the High Court. The High Court is satisfied with the steps taken by us. The situation was definitely bad, but it has improved due to the steps taken by the state government and the state government also took the help of central paramilitary forces. All forces worked together and peace has been restored," Banerjee told ANI on the Murshidabad Violence.
He further stated that all forces had worked together, and peace had been restored in the city.
"Everything is normal in Murshidabad district... BJP is trying to do politics. Amit Shah is also engaging in politics instead of taking the necessary steps...They hatched a plan to indulge in riots," he added.
Meanwhile, a delegation of the Congress, led by its West Bengal unit president Subhankar Sarkar, will visit riot-affected Shamsherganj in Murshidabad district on Saturday and review the situation there.
During the visit to Shamsherganj around 2 PM, Sarkar will be accompanied by Malda Dakshin MP Isha Khan Choudhury, AICC observer Amba Prasad and other party leaders, he said.
"We will go to the riot-hit areas of Shamsherganj and those around it tomorrow. We also have plans to visit other areas where there was violence," the Congress party official told PTI.
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