The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fact-finding committee, led by Ravi Shankar Prasad, has arrived in Kolkata to investigate the recent violence in South Bengal. The committee comprises four members who will also visit North Bengal before submitting their report.
During a press conference, Ravi Shankar Prasad criticized the Trinamool Congress (TMC), accusing them of shaming democracy and creating an atmosphere of atrocities and anarchy in West Bengal. He expressed concern over the silence of Congress and CPI(M) leaders regarding the violence in the state.
Prasad further questioned why Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has not faced the media and demanded to know the reason behind the opposition’s silence on the West Bengal violence. He also raised concerns about whether their fact-finding team will be allowed to visit the violence-hit areas and interview the victims.
Responding to a question, Prasad supported the demand made by the Bengal BJP to implement Article 355, asserting that it is justified.
In response to the BJP’s press conference, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticized the fact-finding committee, calling it the BJP’s protection team and a provocative team. She questioned why similar teams were not sent to Manipur and Tripura, where violence has also occurred. Banerjee accused the central government of sending such teams to West Bengal to malign the state, citing incidents where their team faced violence in Tripura and was not allowed in Assam during the NRC protest.
In conclusion, the BJP fact-finding committee has begun investigating the violence in South Bengal, with a visit planned for North Bengal as well. Ravi Shankar Prasad criticized the TMC for shaming democracy and creating an atmosphere of atrocities and anarchy in the state. Mamata Banerjee questioned the motives behind such fact-finding teams and accused the central government of targeting West Bengal. The investigation and subsequent report will shed light on the situation and determine the appropriate response to address the ongoing violence in the state.