The mounting political tensions in West Bengal are likely to escalate as yet another controversy has erupted, after the Bharatiya Janta Party’s (BJP) leader Amit Malviya has posted an audio clip on Friday. The recently posted audio clip featured West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee telling the Trinamool Congress (TMC) nominee of Sitalkuchi to hold rallies with bodies of the four persons killed in CISF firing during polling on April 10.
Releasing the audio clip on his official Twitter handle, BJP’s IT Cell chief Amit Malviya claimed that the “chief minister is trying to instigate riots by asking her party leaders to take out rallies with bodies”.
The audio clip contained excerpts of the telephonic conversation between Banerjee and Partha Pratim Ray. TMC in its response to the audio clip released on the eve of the fifth phase of the polls – called it “bogus” and claimed that such a conversation never took place, reported News18.
“Post the violence in Sitalkuchi, Mamata Banerjee wanted to take out procession with bodies of those who died trying to capture booth 126. She spoke about framing the SP and IC for doing their job, asked TMC’s candidate to spread misinformation about detention centers to scare Ms,” BJP’s IT Cell chief Amit Malviya wrote in a tweet on Friday.
Furthermore, BJP has also decided to move to the Election Commission of India over the released audio clip. Malviya has also alleged that all efforts were being made to make sure that free and fair polls do not happen in Bengal.
A recent News18 report quoted the BJP’s IT Cell chief, as he said, “This is a gross violation of political ethics and the BJP will approach the election commission in its demand for strict action against the Bengal chief minister.”
Meanwhile, BJP MP and assembly candidate from Hooghly, Locket Chatterjee, said: “it is shocking to see a woman act like this and play dirty politics… Didi does not shy away from playing politics of the dead.”
“TMC signifies VULTURE CULTURE- of feasting on death for petty political gains. TMC should be ashamed of themselves,” BJP national president JP Nadda wrote in a tweet.
The storm of allegations and release of Mamata Banerjee’s audio clip comes after four TMC leaders were killed as central forces opened fire allegedly after coming under attack from locals, who “attempted to snatch their rifles”, near a booth in Sitalkuchi in Cooch Behar district during the fourth phase of polling.
The firing at Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders in Cooch Behar sparked tensions in West Bengal leading to political outbursts across the entire state. While the TMC has described the killings as a “genocide,” the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) whose troopers opened fire, reportedly said that its Quick Reaction Team (QRT) was surrounded by an “armed mob,” forcing it to open fire in self-defence.
