Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday directed the West Bengal government to requisition central forces to assist the state police in maintaining peace during Hanuman Jayanti celebrations. The court said that in view of the incidents that have happened in the recent past, orders are being given to assure the general public that they are safe and will not be affected by any disturbances.
Following a Calcutta High Court directive, the West Bengal government on Wednesday decided to deploy paramilitary forces during Hanuman Jayanti celebrations in three districts of Hooghly, Barrackpore and Kolkata, a senior official said. The decision was taken in a meeting held virtually by Chief Secretary HK Dwivedi with senior police officers of the state.
Clashes broke out between the two groups at some places in Howrah and Hooghly districts during and after the Ram Navami procession. Welcoming the court order, the opposition BJP claimed that the West Bengal government had failed to maintain law and order, while the ruling TMC accused the saffron camp of trying to create trouble in the state.
Observing that prevention is better than cure, a division bench headed by Acting Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam directed the West Bengal government to demand central forces to avoid any breach of peace when Hanuman Jayanti rallies are taken out on Thursday. To be done The court also directed the Center to make expeditious arrangements for such deployment on receipt of a request from the state.
The order came on a PIL filed by BJP’s Shubhendu Adhikari, Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly. The High Court said that the state police, with the assistance of central forces, is required to take all steps to prevent any untoward incident so that people are not put at risk.
It also asked the state to file an action taken report on the next date of hearing.
“The intelligence wing of the state police shall be strengthened and all steps shall be taken to prevent any such premeditated attack or violence,” the bench directed. It has been said that in view of the sensitivity of the issue, no political personality or any leader or common man will make any statement in front of the public or the media regarding the festival.
The court said the police would have the discretion to restrict the route of any procession in view of “unpleasant” incidents.
Passing the order, the bench, also comprising Justice Hiranmoy Bhattacharya, said it should be ensured that Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated in a peaceful manner without any untoward incident.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said in Digha in East Medinipur district, “We welcome the court order.” However, the High Court order prompted a war of words between the TMC and the BJP. BJP national vice-president Dilip Ghosh alleged that the state government, due to its ‘appeasement politics’, failed to control the situation when violence broke out during Ram Navami celebrations.
Shubhendu Adhikari also accused the state government of failing to maintain law and order in the state. TMC state spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said, “We have seen that central forces were deployed in the run-up to the eight-phase assembly elections in 2021. The BJP and the saffron camp are trying to create trouble in the state. Gotta deal with it.” With BJP goons.
CPI(M) Central Committee member Sujan Chakraborty said both the BJP and the Trinamool Congress were trying to destroy the state’s culture. “The failure of the administration in the last few days is evident. The TMC and the BJP are trying to destroy the entire state and its culture. Such a situation was unimaginable during the Left Front rule,” he said.