Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday paid homage to the Matua community's spiritual guru Sri Sri Harichand Thakur and said his teachings and principles are of immense importance in present times when attempts are being made to divide the society based on language and region. Modi, without naming anyone, said it is a democratic right to participate in political activities, but the use of intimidation and violence against political opponents is a "violation of democratic rights".
This comes amid both the Congress and the BJP alleging a complete breakdown of law and order in West Bengal, and demanding imposition of Section 155.
Matua is a backward Hindu community, a section of which is demanding implementation of the CAA as promised by BJP central leaders before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. A number of Matua community leaders who were elected MLAs owing allegiance to the BJP have however of late been seen unhappy with the party leadership because of the delay in its implementation.
"The teachings of Sri Sri Harichand Thakur becomes more important when we witness violence because of self-interest, and attempts to divide society on the basis of language and region," he said while virtually addressing the Matua Dharma Maha Mela at Thakurnagar in North 24 Parganas district. He said everybody must oppose the mentality of violence, anarchy anywhere in society.
The oblique reference to violence is being perceived by analysts as a hint to the Birbhum killings and other cases of attacks in West Bengal.
On March 28, West Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankhar met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi, and submitted a report on the “constitutional breakdown” in West Bengal. The same day, West Bengal BJP MLAs clashed with TMC MLAs over the Birbhum killings. The saffron party’s chief whip in assembly, Manoj Tigga, was, allegedly, injured, and was taken to Delhi for treatment as a top private hospital in the state, BJP MLAs alleged, refused to treat the “politically motivated” case of Tigga.
Interestingly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited all West Bengal BJP MPs for a breakfast meeting on March 30. Hours before the invite, the MPs got together at the residence of MoS (Home) Nisith Pramanik.
Meanwhile, Dhankhar has called Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is in north Bengal now, to Raj Bhavan this week for an “urgent meeting” on law and order. The governor has expressed concern at Banerjee’s stance to “hit the streets in protest against CBI probe of Rampurhat killing ignoring that CBI investigation is ordered and monitored by the Honble High Court at Calcutta”, Raj Bhavan said in a statement.
