NEW DELHI: The alleged desecration of a Goddess Kali idol triggered outrage in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district on Wednesday, with the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accusing the Trinamool Congress (TMC)-led state government of "shielding" the culprits.
The incident occurred at a village under the Suryanagar gram panchayat area in the Kakdwip assembly constituency, where locals reportedly found the damaged idol inside a temple, news agency PTI reported.
The idol was later taken awayin a prison van, further escalating tensions and fuelling political slugfest over the incident. BJP leaders shared videos of the idol being removed and accused chief minister Mamata Banerjee of “insulting” Hindu sentiments — a charge the party has repeatedly levelled against the Trinamool supremo.
Rejecting the allegation, a TMC leader accused the BJP of trying to "vitiate the atmosphere."
"The BJP is trying to communalise the incident and vitiate the atmosphere. Let police complete the probe. We condemn any attempt to disturb the harmony in this area," the leader, a local party functionary, stated.
Police warn against 'misinformation'
Meanwhile, the West Bengal Police issued a statement, saying that "misinformation" was being spread about the incident.
“Efforts are being made from certain quarters to spread misinformation about an incident in Kakdwip. Facts are: an idol of Goddess Kali in a village temple under Suryanagar GP was found to be damaged this morning. Efforts are on to identify the person/persons behind the mischief. Stern action will be taken against those responsible for the incident," it posted on X.
The police added that locals had blocked the national highway in protest and refused to go ahead with the immersion.
“Police persuaded the agitators for hours to withdraw the blockade, which was causing serious public inconvenience, with ambulances carrying patients also being stuck. When the agitators did not relent and started pelting stones at the police, minimum force was resorted to by the police to disperse the mob. The immersion of the idol was facilitated thereafter,” it said.
The incident comes ahead of next year’s West Bengal assembly elections, where Mamata Banerjee will seek a fourth consecutive term as chief minister.
The incident occurred at a village under the Suryanagar gram panchayat area in the Kakdwip assembly constituency, where locals reportedly found the damaged idol inside a temple, news agency PTI reported.
The idol was later taken awayin a prison van, further escalating tensions and fuelling political slugfest over the incident. BJP leaders shared videos of the idol being removed and accused chief minister Mamata Banerjee of “insulting” Hindu sentiments — a charge the party has repeatedly levelled against the Trinamool supremo.
Rejecting the allegation, a TMC leader accused the BJP of trying to "vitiate the atmosphere."
"The BJP is trying to communalise the incident and vitiate the atmosphere. Let police complete the probe. We condemn any attempt to disturb the harmony in this area," the leader, a local party functionary, stated.
Police warn against 'misinformation'
Meanwhile, the West Bengal Police issued a statement, saying that "misinformation" was being spread about the incident.
“Efforts are being made from certain quarters to spread misinformation about an incident in Kakdwip. Facts are: an idol of Goddess Kali in a village temple under Suryanagar GP was found to be damaged this morning. Efforts are on to identify the person/persons behind the mischief. Stern action will be taken against those responsible for the incident," it posted on X.
The police added that locals had blocked the national highway in protest and refused to go ahead with the immersion.
“Police persuaded the agitators for hours to withdraw the blockade, which was causing serious public inconvenience, with ambulances carrying patients also being stuck. When the agitators did not relent and started pelting stones at the police, minimum force was resorted to by the police to disperse the mob. The immersion of the idol was facilitated thereafter,” it said.
The incident comes ahead of next year’s West Bengal assembly elections, where Mamata Banerjee will seek a fourth consecutive term as chief minister.
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