Ban Dilip Ghosh: TMC petitions ECI for criminal action against WB BJP chief for Cooch Behar comments

The Cooch Behar firing incident in West Bengal, when four people were killed in firing by armed forces, has become a political flashpoint in the state. CISF personnel opened fire allegedly after coming under attack from locals, who "attempted to snatch their rifles" while voting was underway in Sitalkuchi on Saturday. The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) petitioned the Election Commission of India (ECI) to censor state BJP chief Dilip Ghosh for his comments on the incident, seeking legal action against him, and for banning him from campaigning for the rest four phases of elections. 

According to the TMC petition, as accessed by ANI, Ghosh justified the "murder" by saying at a rally: "ar jodi barabakri kore Sitalkuchi dekheche ki hoche, jaegae jaegae Sitalkuchi" hobe (people have seen what happened at Sitalkuchi, if anyone steps its boundary, the incident of Sitalkuchi will be repeated again and again). 

The petition noted: "Instead of condemning the acts of violence of CRPF in the brutal cold-blooded killing of the four innocent people, Dilip Ghosh has actively seen condoning the acts and in fact encouraging similar spell of violence in the ongoing elections in West Bengal. In the circumstances, we call upon you, to forthwith: First, initiate appropriate strict legal action, including criminal proceedings, against Dilip Ghosh for his inflammatory and inciting statement and openly threatening the electorate. Secondly, restrain Dilip Ghosh for campaigning for remaining phases."

The killings had triggered a political storm in West Bengal, with CM Banerjee calling it a "genocide" and Union Home Minister Amit Shah warning her against doing "appeasement politics" over bodies. The TMC chief said the Election Commission's decision to bar the entry of politicians in Cooch Behar district for 72 hours was aimed at "suppressing facts" and asserted she will visit the area by April 14. "There was genocide at Sitalkuchi. I would like to visit the area by April 14. The EC is trying to suppress facts by restricting entry in Cooch Behar. We have an incompetent home minister and an incompetent central government," Banerjee said.

Shah, on the other hand, held Mamata responsible for the killings. "Mamata had advised people to gheraeo central forces. Is that not responsible for the deaths in Sitalkuchi? Her advice had instigated the people to attack the CISF. She has given rise to the situation of firing," Shah told reporters after a roadshow in Shantipur in Nadia district. He also said that he will resign if people of the country and West Bengal as him to do so, while asserting that Banerjee will have to quit on May 2, when the results of the assembly elections will be declared.

The TMC chief has demanded Shah's resignation over the Cooch Behar killings, the latest flashpoint between rival TMC and BJP which is expected to have its bearing on the next four phases of the elections for the 294-member Bengal house.

Shah alleged that Banerjee did appeasement politics by paying tributes to the people killed in the CISF firing but did not condole the death of the BJP worker, identified as Anand Barman, as he was from the Rajbongshi community who are not her vote bank. "Didi is shedding tears for the four persons who died in the CISF firing but not for the fifth man. She is not even taking his name. No chief minister should do this. All deaths are equally unfortunate," he said. Shah said no TMC worker will be killed after the BJP assumes power in West Bengal and strict action will be taken if any such incident takes place.

-Inputs from PTI