Bengal on high-alert after fresh violence, all eyes now on Hanuman Jayanti

West Bengal has been put on high-alert following incidents of violence that took place on Ram Navami last week.

In some parts of the state, internet remained snapped and prohibitory orders were extended. The state will continue to remain on high-alert due to the upcoming Hanuman Jayantii celebrations. This has promoted chief minister, Mamata Banerjee to urge the Hindus to protect the minorities in the state. She further said that political workers were deliberately taking out Ram Navami processions in minority areas to incite communal violence.

"I will entrust a responsibility on my Hindu brothers to see that minorities are not tortured on April 6, when Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated," she said.

The comments come days after clashes broke out between two groups of people during Ram Navami in Rishra and Serampore in Hooghly district. This was followed by another skirmish at Kazipara on March 30.

The BJP has however lashed out at Banerjee and said that the Trinamool Congress chief, is making these statements following her party's loss in the Sagardighi by-election. BJP leader Rahul Sinha claimed that both Hindus and Muslims turned away from her party.

"She is providing a prior excuse so that if something goes wrong on April 6, she will be able to blame the BJP. This is a good ploy by her to cover up the wrongdoings of her party colleagues," Sinha was quoted by news agency PTI as saying.

CPI(M) central committee member Dr. Sujan Chakraborty said that if Banerjee had information regarding probable violence on Hanuman Jayanti, she could have held a meeting with the administration and ordered tightening of security.

"She must meet the police to find out why these incidents took place and what could be done to tighten security," he also said.

Bengal has been witnessing vandalism and clashes over the festival since the last one week.

Banerjee asked, why the processions would continue for five days after Ram Navami.

"Do it on the day of the festival. We have never objected to it. They cannot conduct rallies with guns and bombs, or without necessary permission from the police," Banerjee said.

She also alleged that the BJP was behind the violence.

"They are deliberately entering the minority areas to incite violence and create tension," the chief minister said.