BJP president Amit Shah has sought a detailed report from the party's West Bengal unit on the accident at a rally addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Midnapore on Monday, in which over 60 people were injured after a tent collapsed over them. The party's state unit has accused the Mamata Banerjee government of not responding to pleas for assistance when planning Modi's visit.
Shah spoke to BJP West Bengal president Dilip Ghosh and expressed his "anguish" on the sudden collapse of the tent, which was erected by iron rods, at the rally venue in Midnapore.
A general secretary of the West Bengal BJP has been asked to probe the matter on behalf of the party despite the fact that Union home ministry has sprung into action and decided to send senior officials to the site.
The College ground of Midnapore, where the accident took place during the time of Modi's speech, has been cordoned off for a series of inspections by state and Central officials.
Among the injured, three victims had serious head injuries and have been admitted in a private hospital in Kolkata while the rest are recuperating in different hospitals in other parts of the state. Modi himself went to hospitals in Midnapore to see the victims. Modi had asked the BJP to take up the burden of the treatment of the injured.
The West Bengal BJP said that a report would be sent in a day to Shah on the accident.
"We have found in our initial probe that there was massive lacunae on the part of the West Bengal government. We are not overlooking our responsibilities too. But when the prime minister visits any state—whether for official or non-official purposes—senior police officers have to be present in the venue. They have to do sanitisation of the spot and check everything in surrounding areas. However, we did not find senior officials of the state police present at the venue," Biswapriya Roychowdhury, vice-president of West Bengal BJP unit, told THE WEEK.
"We will send the report that though our state leadership had intimated the West Bengal government prior to the meeting that a large number of people would be present, they turned a blind eye to every plea from us for cooperation. We are sending all these facts to our national party president immediately," said Roychowdhury.
On being asked about the lacunae on the part of the SPG, which is in charge of the security of the prime minister, Roychowdury said, "SPG is to see PM's security and areas close to him. It cannot inspect the entire ground. It has to rely on the state police."
On Monday, Ghosh had said that he would take full responsibility of the Midnapore mishap victims. While the West Bengal government had hurriedly disassociated itself from the incident, it also said it would take care of the hospitalised victims.
Apart from sending officials to West Bengal, the Union home ministry has also sought a report from the West Bengal government about the accident.
Additional director-general of police Siddhinath Gupta on Tuesday rushed to Midnapore to inquire into the accident.
This is the second time in quick succession Modi's presence in West Bengal was marred by controversy. Last month, when Modi came to Shantiniketan, there was a man who breached the SPG security cordon of the prime minister and went up to dais to take a selfie with him.
The BJP questioned how, despite presence of West Bengal Police, people could get close to the prime minister.
"When not even our party leaders are allowed to reach the prime minister, how could these incidents happen? West Bengal Police shirked its responsibilities to protect the prime minister of the country. West Bengal government is liable to explain," said the BJP's vice president.
Worryingly, incidents like security breaches and accidents during Modi's visit in West Bengal come at a time when the union home ministry has tightened security around the prime minister.
Midnapore, known as a Maoist citadel almost eight years back, is on the list of disturbed areas of the home ministry. The questions also arises about whether there was proper communication and coordination between the Union home ministry and the state government prior to Modi's visit, which was announced and planned well in advance.
The West Bengal government has refused to comment on the issue.