BJP, not Hindus, behind Ram Navami clashes: Mamata Banerjee

TIL Desk/National/Kolkata/ “Hindus not behind violence in Howrah, it was carried out by BJP,” says West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and pledged to help all those whose properties have been vandalised in the Howrah violence. The organiser of the Shobha Yatra in West Bengal’s Howrah and Vishva Hindu Parishad leader Inderdev Dubey on Friday claimed that they did not deviate from the approved route and had sought permission from the authorities in advance.

The organiser claimed that Trinamool Congress conducted a yatra ahead of the VHP’s yatra, following which the incident of stone pelting occurred. Dubey’s claims came after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said, “Why did they change the route and take the unauthorised route to particularly target and attack one community?”

Several vehicles were set on fire after two groups clashed in West Bengal’s Howrah amid Ram Navami celebrations. During the procession, the rioters vandalized public and private properties and set vehicles on fire. Speaking to reporters, Dubey claimed that they had sought police protection near a particular area on the route of the yatra, where he alleged disturbances occur every time.

“We followed the route map for the yatra which was submitted to the authorities. We even sought permission from the Railways as we had to cross a railway gate, so that railways does not face any problems. We had repeatedly requested the Police to provide protection to the yatra near PS Shivpur as disturbance occurs near there every time. We had given every information to the administration regarding the banners which would be displayed and slogans that would be raised during the procession,” the organiser of the Shobha yatra claimed.