Kolkata, Jan. 15:
While the Mamata government is engaged in preparations for the Gangasagar Mela, politics has intensified after the attack on sadhus in Purulia district as an attempt is being made to give communal color to this attack on sadhus. It has been clearly stated by local leaders that no member of the Muslim community was involved in the attack on the sadhus.However, fear has gripped the Muslims in Purulia,who are afraid they will be targeted.
A group of five saints from Uttar Pradesh left for Gangasagar in West Bengal. There were allegations of beating and harassing them in Purulia.
BJP leaders are fuming.Amit Malviya, head of BJP’s IT cell, alleged, “Terrorists like Shahjahan Sheikh were given security during Mamata Banerjee’s rule. And saints are harassed. They are all grassroots gangsters. Bengal is brutally oppressing Hindus.”
The leaders of GeruaShibir have started to link the incident of the killing of Sadhu at Palghar in Maharashtra with this incident.
Acharya Satyendra Das, chief priest of the Ram temple, attacked Mamata Banerjee. He said, “Mamata Banerjee gets fired up when she sees the ochercolor. That is why some call her Mumtaz Khan. Religious processions were similarly attacked in Bengal on the day of Ram Navami.”
The supporters of the ruling party have come together to protest the personal attacks on the Chief Minister.
Purulia Superintendent of Police Abhijit Banerjee said the incident is being investigated. Already 12 people have been arrested on charges of harassing saints. He claimed that the car of saints from Uttar Pradesh was stopped at Gaurangadhi area. They stopped the car to offer puja at a local Kali temple and asked the three girls for directions to the temple. However, there were arguments due to language problems. The girls thought they were being followed by saints.The locals got angry.The girls grumbled, thinking they were being threatened. This incident took place in front of a Durga temple.However, a viral video shows a group of mobs harassing the saints.
TMC leader Sushmita Dev said, “When it comes to women’s security and dignity of women, the BJP has failed again and again. We have seen that the members of the BJP IT cell have been embroiled in the rape case of BHU-IIT. We have seen that when it comes to women wrestlers, BJP has failed to protect them. We have seen in the ghastly case of Bilkis Bano which shook the nation,how the BJP stood by those behind the heinous crime! This double standard of the BJP must be exposed.”
“Those who attacked the Sadhus were all Hindus and (a) few from tribal community. 12 people arrested by police so far are all Hindus. No Muslim were involved in the scuffle. Area where the incident happened is a Hindu locality,” Riju Dutta, TMC spokesperson wrote on his X handle.
Police refused to share the names of the accused persons, saying further investigation was going on.