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regular-article-logo Wednesday, 08 May 2024

Bengal BJP chief nudges Amit Shah, governor

Sukanta Majumdar and his colleagues say Union government should impose Article 355, if deemed necessary, to 'restore normalcy'

Arkamoy Datta Majumdar Calcutta Published 05.04.23, 04:51 AM
Police stop Sukanta Majumdar and Jyotirmoy Singh Mahato from entering Rishra on Tuesday.

Police stop Sukanta Majumdar and Jyotirmoy Singh Mahato from entering Rishra on Tuesday. PTI Photo

Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar wrote to Union home minister Amit Shah and governor C.V. Ananda Bose on Tuesday seeking central intervention in the state following recent clashes in Howrah and Rishra.

Majumdar and his colleagues also said the Union government should impose Article 355, if it deems fit, in these two places to "restore normalcy".

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"We want central intervention. Now the Union home ministry will decide what is suitable. If Article 355 is imposed in Rishra and Howrah as a solution to these clashes, I think it will increase people's confidence," Majumdar told journalists after meeting governor Bose on Tuesday.

Article 355 empowers the Union "to protect every State against external aggression and internal disturbance...".

Majumdar's letter to Shah is the third since March 31, which was a day after clashes broke out in Howrah's Shibpur over Ram Navami processions.

In Tuesday's letter, Majumdar sought Shah's personal intervention and alleged the state police has "lost its spine and impartiality" under the director-general of police Manoj Malaviya.

The Balurghat MP requested Shah to look into the violation of the Central Civil Services Conduct Rules and the department of personnel and training guidelines because "democratic rights are also being curtailed by the police of West Bengal under Mr. Malaviya".

In his letter to Bose, which he handed over to the governor personally at Raj Bhavan, Majumdar again sought central intervention.

Majumdar urged Bose to take note of all these incidents and "ensure the necessary intervention of the Central Government... to ensure immediate restoration of justice".

Earlier in the day, Majumdar sought to go to Serampore in Hooghly for a dharna demanding justice for clash victims. However, he was stopped by the police on a national highway near Dankuni.

The MP, along with party colleague and parliamentarian Jyotirmoy Singh Mahato, demanded that the police allow them to advance. When waiting for three hours didn't prove helpful, they again headed back to Calcutta.

Majumdar's meeting with the governor took place after he reached Calcutta.

In a separate attempt to reach Rishra, BJP's Hooghly MP Locket Chatterjee boarded a train from Bally station, but was stopped by the police at Rishra station.

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