Mamata fears violence on Hanuman Jayanti, urges Hindus to protect Muslims

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee asked Hindu brothers to protect minorities and claimed that there are plans afoot for another round of violence in the state on Thursday when the nation celebrates Hanuman JayantiShe also claimed that political workers carrying arms and bombs are deliberately taking out Ram Navami processions in minority areas even five days after the festival is over to incite violenceBanerjees comments came a day after clashes broke out between two groups of people during Ram Navami processions in Rishra and Serampore in Hooghly district These incidents followed another skirmish at Kazipara in Howrah on March 30 the day of the festivalI will entrust a responsibility to my Hindu brothers to see that minorities are not tortured on April 6 Hanuman Jayanti Banerjee said while addressing a programme here in Purba Medinipur districtBanerjees appeal to Hindus is reminiscent of Bangladeshs founder Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahmans Rukhe Darao Stand up in protest call in 1964 when communal disturbances were sweeping the then East PakistanThe Trinamool Congress supremo also urged Hindus to give protection to the Scheduled Caste and Adivasi communitiesLashing out at Banerjee senior BJP leader Rahul Sinha asserted that the TMC chief is making these statements after her partys loss in the Sagardighi byelection in which he claimed both Hindus and Muslims turned away from her partyShe is also providing a prior excuse so that if something goes wrong on April 6 she will be able to blame the BJP This is a good ploy of Banerjee to cover up the wrongdoings of her party colleagues Sinha told PTICPIM central committee member Dr Sujan Chakraborty said that if Banerjee had the information regarding probable violence on Hanuman Jayanti she could have held meetings with the administration to tighten the security measures instead of touring Purba Medinipur districtShe must meet the police to find out why these incidents took place and what could be done to tighten security measures Chakraborty saidSince last week West Bengal has been witnessing incidents of vandalism and clashes over the festivalWhy will the processions continue for five days after Ram Navami Do it on the day of the festival We have never had objections But they cannot do rallies with guns and bombs or without necessary permissions from the police Banerjee saidThe Trinamool Congress supremo has been alleging that the BJP are behind the arson and clashes during Ramnavami proceedingsThey are deliberately entering minority areas to incite violence and create tension Banerjee claimedAlso Read BJP to release list of candidates for Karnataka polls on April 8Referring to the upcoming panchayat election in the state the dates of which are yet to be announced Banerjee alleged that the BJP and the CPIM have an unholy alliance and they should get a befitting replyTill the day I am alive no one will be able to stop me from fighting for the people I was with the people I am with people and I will remain with people she saidWhile terming the BJPled central government as the most corrupt Banerjee asserted that it has stopped release of funds due to her governmentThe chief minister is on a fourday trip to Purba Medinipore district from Monday She is also scheduled to look into her partys preparedness for the panchayat electionThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever