Bengal violence: 'Baam' and 'Ram' joined hands against us, says Mamata

Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday stepped up her attack on the BJP over the recent violence in the state and accused 'Baam' (Left) and 'Ram' (BJP) of joining hands against the TMC government.

"The youth in whose hands the weapons were seen during Ram Navami....CPI(M) used to do the same. Did you forget the atrocities conducted by CPI(M)? 'Baam' (Left) and 'Ram' (BJP) have their joined hands against us," Hindustan Times quoted Banerjee as saying at a rally in Khejuri district.

She said that the Bengalis do not like violence. "I have to be alert all the time lest BJP incites riots. They don't understand that the people of Bengal don't like violence. Rioting is not Bengal's culture. We don't riot, the general public does not incite riots. When BJP cannot do it on its own, it hires people to fan riots," she added.

Violence broke out on Thursday evening between two groups when a Ram Navami procession was taken out in the twin city of Howrah. Several vehicles, including some belonging to the police, were torched and shops and auto-rickshaws were ransacked during the violence.

However, a fresh stone pelting incident was reported on Friday. A number of local people locked themselves inside houses while shops and markets were closed. Vehicular movement was disrupted following the incident of stone pelting.

On Sunday, violence erupted during BJP's Shobha Yatra in Hoogly.

The series of incidents have led to a war of words between the TMC and the BJP.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs has sought a detailed report from the West Bengal government on violence in Howrah city last week during a Ram Navami procession.

It has asked the state government to submit its report as soon as possible, according to a report in ANI. The development comes after Bengal BJP Chief Sukanta Majumdar on Sunday wrote second letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah over violence in the state during Ram Navami celebrations and sought his immediate intervention.

"In continuation to my earlier letter dated March 31 regarding the communal attack on the processions of Ram Navami in Howrah and Dalkhola, it is further informed that the attack has not yet been stopped and is occurring in different parts of West Bengal," Majumdar wrote in his letter to Shah. He said another attack was made on the Ram Navami procession at Rishra in Hooghly district on Sunday where BJP MP and All India Vice President Dilip Ghosh was participating.

"Along with the Ram Bhaktas he too was attacked by stone pelting. His vehicle was torched and incidents of arson happened as police stood still as mere spectators which strengthens our allegations that there is definite support from the ruling party TMC and section of the administration led by Mamata Banerjee who has already issued several statements in favour of the miscreants belonging to the minority community," Majumdar said.

"In view of the deteriorating law and order situation, we immediately seek your kind intervention as per law so that the situation does not go out of control and lives and properties of ordinary citizens are saved," he added. Shah on Sunday also spoke to West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose and took stock of the situation. In the telephonic conversation with Bose, the Home Minister had also taken detailed information of the incident that led to violence in Howrah city, where several vehicles were torched and shops were ransacked on Thursday evening.