Malda row: BJP, TMC creating communal tension in Malda, says CPI

Kolkata, Jan 15: Accusing BJP and TMC of being hand in glove in creating "communal tension" in Malda, CPI(M) on Friday, Jan 15 said a pre-emptive action by police could have averted the violence there.

"The violence in Malda could have been averted had the police taken pre-emptive action in Malda. There were reports but still it (police) decided to stay mum as it was the instruction from the corridors of power of the state government," CPI(M) politburo member Mohammed Salim told reporters.

"The police is now arresting supporters of Left parties and trying to hush up the incident to save the culprits," he said.

Accusing ruling TMC, and BJP of polarising West Bengal, he said, "Actually it is a got up game between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in which they are trying to communally polarise the state."

A CPI(M) delegation was denied permission to visit violence-hit Kaliachak in Malda district on Monday just hours after a BJP team was stopped by district authorities from going to the area citing prohibitory orders.

The incident had triggered a spat between BJP and ruling TMC, which alleged saffron outfits were trying to "communalise" the situation ahead of the Assembly election.

A rampaging crowd on January 3 had set on fire Kaliachak police station and several vehicles while protesting against the alleged blasphemous remarks made by a pro-Hindutva leader, who was in jail.

PTI