The Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Smriti Irani, on Thursday, Aug 19, lambasted at Mamata Banerjee-government for the “khela” of violence played in West Bengal, allegedly by Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers in the aftermath of the assembly polls 2021. The BJP’s staunch leader termed the rapes and murders allegedly committed against innocent BJP workers as TMC’s “khela”.
Irani’s reprimand has come at the backdrop of Calcutta High Court’s judgement wherein the court confirmed that post-poll violence did take place and that the incidents need to be investigated by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) under court monitoring to uncover the truth behind the incidents. The top court of the state also ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) for investigation of relatively less serious crimes. The team will comprise senior officers from West Bengal cadre, the court judgement underscored.
The Union Minister said that the High Court’s judgement has assured justice to the victims of the post-poll violence that the TMC leaders have been denying continuously.
“The message from today’s judgement is there will be no ‘khela’ but only justice.” stated Smriti Irani after the court passed its judgment. Irani questioned the West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, if she has met the victims of the post-poll violence, and if there was any attempt by her to rehabilitate the victims.
“Has Mamata Banerjee ever asked anyone who left Bengal to come back to the state? So many women have been raped. Did Mamata Banerjee offer them moral support or assure them of justice? So many people’s homes have been looted and ransacked. Did she meet any of those families? Instead, she said nothing such happened. Today the court said these things happened,” roared Union Minister Smriti Irani while speaking to ANI.
The BJP leader also countered TMC leader Saugata Roy’s discontent over the judgement and ordering of CBI probe in the state. Irani said that the state does not have the right to torch and ransack the houses of the followers and workers of BJP.
“What is the state’s matter? Is it the right of the state government to rape women? To kill people? Is it the right of the West Bengal government to loot and burn the houses of BJP workers and make Indians refugee in their own country – their only fault being that they are BJP supporters?” said Irani while countering Roy, quoted in a media report.
Saugata Roy had expressed her displeasure over ordering CBI probe which according to her is the transgression in the state rights. “I am unhappy with the verdict. If in every law and order matter which is entirely within state government’s jurisdiction the CBI comes in, it is a transgression on state’s right. I am sure state government will judge the situation and take a decision to appeal to a higher court if necessary,” Roy was quoted as saying in an ANI report.
West Bengal witnessed humongous post-poll violence in the state after the assembly elections result was declared in May 2021. The BJP alleged TMC sponsored violence targeting the former’s party cadres while the latter refuted the allegations repeatedly.
