‘Clashes stage-managed by BJP’

Rajganj/Nagrakota, April 11

Urging people not to vote for “trigger-happy BJP”, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday claimed that the tragedy in Cooch Behar was the “result of a conspiracy” hatched by the saffron party to intimidate voters.

Amid polling for the fourth phase of elections on Saturday, four persons died in the Sitalkuchi area of Cooch Behar when CISF personnel opened fire allegedly after coming under attack from locals who “attempted to snatch their rifles”, the police had said.

The TMC supremo, who addressed three rallies in Jalpaiguri district during the day also stated that BJP leaders who had come out in support of the central forces should sit back and reflect if they would have had the same stance if someone in their families met with a similar fate.

“I have the video footage that shows some BJP leaders speaking in favour of the central forces after the firing incident. You (BJP leaders) don’t feel sad if sons die in other families. What if it had happened to someone in your family,” Banerjee said in Rajganj.

Hitting out at the accused CISF personnel, she said, “If you think someone is causing nuisance, speak to him, you also have lathis. How can you suddenly point your gun at the torso and neck of voters?” Describing the incident as “murder of democracy”, Banerjee pointed out that the EC has stopped her and other politicians from visiting Sitalkuchi for 72 hours at the “behest of the BJP”. “You can stop me from visiting Sitalkuchi or for that matter any other place, but I will find a way out to be on the side of the distressed people.” — PTI