Defying prohibitory orders, BJP delegation visits violence-hit Asansol

Defying prohibitory orders, a four-member BJP delegation on Sunday visited violence-hit Asansol in West Bengal.

The delegation also visited relief camps at Ramkrishnapur and Dhadka in Asansol and blamed the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government for “having failed” to control the situation.

“We visited the relief camps at Ramkrishnapur and Dhadka in Asansol and found out that whatever had happened was wrong. It was a failure on the part of the state government,” said BJP national spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain.

The delegation, which was formed by BJP chief Amit Shah, will submit a report to him on its return.

Besides Hussain, the delegation comprises BJP national vice-president and Rajya Sabha member Om Prakash Mathur, Palamu MP and former director general of Jharkhand police Vishnu Dayal Ram and Rajya Sabha member Roopa Ganguly.

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On the way to the coal town of Asansol, the delegation was requested by the police to stop at Basra More and Kalipahari as prohibitory orders were in force in the area.

However, after a brief discussion with the police, the BJP leaders proceeded with their plan to visit Asansol.

Communal clashes broke out on Monday in Raniganj over a Ram Navami procession and soon spread to adjacent Asansol, where 16-year-old Sibtulla Rashidi, son of the Imam of Noorani Masjid was killed.

Earlier on Saturday, West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi had also visited violence-hit Asansol and Raniganj.

“I have come here with a message of peace and I appeal to all the people to be in harmony and respect each other. Everybody should respect each other’s religious festivals,” Tripathi said.

The governor, however, chose not to stop at any of the minority-dominated areas during slightly over than four hours visit.