Bengal's situation making nationalists agitate: Rudy

Kolkata, March 6: Standing behind West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh who has threatened to "chop off" pro-Pakistan sloganeers, union minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy on Sunday said the prevailing situation in the state has made nationalists agitate.

"BJP's soul is nationalism and integrity of the country and no individual would accept any statement made against the country. On hearing such slogans, BJP people get charged up and that anguish gets reflected.

"It is desirable that political leaders exercise refrain while expressing their sentiments, but so far as Ghosh's sentiments are concerned, we are with him. Although there are always a different way of putting things," Rudy told media persons here.

"Political leaders should exercise restraint but the situation in Bengal is such that it will make anyone agitate. Language establishes dignity and is very important, but the situation on the ground warrants that the BJP takes a positive lead as far as politics of change in Bengal is concerned," said the union minister of state for parliamentary affairs.

Addressing a party gathering in Birbhum district, Ghosh on Wednesday said: "Anyone who raises slogans of 'Pakistan Zindabad' will be chopped by six inches from top."

Again on Friday, Ghosh prescribed a "thrashing with shoes" to "cure" Jadavpur University students who allegedly had raised pro-Pakistan slogans.

Rudy also hit out at the Trinamool and the communists for political violence in West Bengal and called for the Election Commission to take cognisance of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's recent comments.

During a TV interview, Banerjee had said the central security forces would provide security only during the polls and people would have to depend upon her administration for the rest of the year.

"Bengal has a history of political violence with the communists, the Trinamool and the Congress being accused for it, so I think the EC should take cognisance of the chief minister's comments and ensure all measures for free and fair polls," said Rudy.

He also exuded confidence of BJP's success in the coming polls.

"Nobody had thought that we would form government in Jammu and Kashmir, but we did. So it will not be surprising if we come to power in Bengal. Even if we don't come to power, our performance should be such that it is the BJP which will decide who should form the government here," added Rudy.

IANS