West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said plans are afoot for another round of violence in the state on April 6 when the nation celebrates Hanuman Jayanti. Banerjee said the clashes during the Ram Navami processions were deliberately stocked by the organisers who took it to routes that were not permitted.
"I will entrust a responsibility to my Hindu brothers to see that minorities are not tortured on April 6 (Hanuman Jayanti)," Banerjee said while addressing a programme at Khejuri in Purba Medinipur district.
The chief minister urged the youth to come forward to prevent any kind of tension, and said protection should be given to the Scheduled Caste and Adivasi communities, too.
"I am asking my administration as well as the common people to remain alert on April 6. We all respect Bajrangbali, and we do not want any tension or violence in his name. The youth should come forward in preventing any kind of tension," she said.
Violence broke out during Ram Navami processions in Shibpur and Kazipara areas of Howrah district on Thursday with several shops ransacked and a number of vehicles set on fire. Police personnel deployed in the area were pelted with stones on Friday afternoon following which prohibitory orders were imposed in the area and internet services were suspended.
On Sunday, a fresh bout of violence was reported in Hooghly after two groups clashed during a Ram Navami 'shobha yatra' organised by the BJP.
Banerjee questioned the justification of taking out the procession three days after Ram Navami.
"We are in the middle of Ramzan month. But some people are steering the processions to sensitive areas with the intention of creating tension. The fruit stalls in those areas have been burnt down. They are even participating in the procession with firearms and other lethal weapons," she said.
