What took so long for PM Modi to finally wake up to the Bengal violence?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the victims of Birbhum, West Bengal. PM further appealed to the people of Bengal “to never forgive the perpetrators of such incidents and those who encourage such criminals.” The heart-wrenching photograph and videos of the incident state gravity of the incident.

Birbhum massacre

According to news reports, On 21st March 2022, Bhadu Sheikh, a deputy Pradhan of the Baguti village, Birbhum was murdered. In response to that, the supporters of the panchayat member burnt at least 8 members of a family alive. Most of them were children and women.

Further, the autopsy report of the bodies revealed that before burning alive they were beaten and then the houses were set on fire.

Read more: The anarchy at Birbhum puts a question mark on West Bengal‘s Law and Order again

Bengal under Mamata Banerjee – Heaven for criminals 

Ever since Mamata Banerjee was re-elected to power, things have gone from bad to worst in West Bengal. The concept of law and order seems to have turned into theory alone with no practical applications. The horrendous killings in Birbhum show that insurrection has taken control of the state.

Read more: Is the judiciary only saving grace for Hindus in West Bengal?

The situation of law and order is so distressing that even  Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury was forced to ask the President to intervene. Citing the complete breakdown of the constitutional machinery of the state, he has asked President to impose Article 355. He further said, “during last month itself there were 26 political murders in West Bengal.”

Post poll violence 2021

After victory in the 2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election, the attack on opposite political parties started. Every political opponent was targeted. Taking cognizance of the disorder, the Calcutta High Court had ordered CBI to investigate the offence of murder, rape, and attempt to rape.

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) committee probing the violence in the state had stated in its report to the Calcutta High Court that “the situation in West Bengal is a manifestation of law of ruler instead of rule of law.”

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Justification of violence

Mamata Banerjee justifying violence said, “such incidents are more frequent in UP, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan.” Further, Didi added that “such incidents of violence are the result of a conspiracy hatched to divert attention from issued of concern, such as price hiked of petrol and other commodities.”

It is the most shameful excuse of the West Bengal Chief Minister to hide the failure of state machinery in saving the life of its people. The political violence has brought the state to the situation that the minority community of the state are forced to leave the village.

Read more: The future of Hindus in Bengal if President’s Rule is not imposed

Prime Minister has given the assurance to state in helping them to bring perpetrators to justice. Moreover, his appeal to the people of Bengal to not forgive the criminals behind the crime, speak volume about the incident.

The paramount obligation for a nation-state is to provide safety and security to its people when the state fails to provide it, then it has no morality to stay in power. Mamata government must take responsibility for the killings of its innocent people.