While the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress, the main opposition party in West Bengal, are pushing for a central government in the state, the Trinamool Congress is relying on a seemingly unlikely person: Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah.
A TMC delegation is scheduled to meet Shah at the Parliament House on Thursday at 11.30 am.
After the assassination of a local Trinamool Congress leader on Monday, a mob in the Rampurhat area of Bengal set fire to at least eight people alive in their home.
On Wednesday, Congress Lok Sabha leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury wrote a letter to President Ram Nath Kobind, requesting him to implement Article 355 of the Constitution in West Bengal.
The same request was made by BJP MPs after meeting the Union Home Minister on Tuesday.
Violence in Rampurhat has caused a stir in the capital.
On Wednesday, BJP MPs staged a protest in front of the parliament building with placards in their hands.
Besides, BJP state president and Balurghat MP Sukant Majumder raised the issue in the Lok Sabha at Zero Hour.
He alleged that the law and order situation in West Bengal had deteriorated and demanded special powers and provisions to be enforced by the Center.
Trinamool Lok Sabha leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay immediately denied the allegations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself has spoken on Twitter about the Rampurhat incident.
He wrote, “I appeal to the people of Bengal not to forgive the perpetrators of such incidents and those who encourage such perpetrators.”
However, he assured the state of all possible help from the Center to ensure speedy punishment of the culprits.
Sukant Majumder complained that there were 26 political assassinations in the state in one week and it did not happen anywhere in the country.
He also alleged that there were differences between the police administration and the leaders of the ruling party in the state.
He added that the law and order situation in West Bengal was dire.
Sudip Bandyopadhyay told the Lok Sabha that the whole matter would be clarified after the meeting with Amit Shah.
Sukant said he was ashamed to hear Sudip’s remarks as a resident of the state. Meanwhile, a BJP parliamentary delegation will visit the violence-hit area on Thursday.
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