Mamata Banerjee claims riots in Murshidabad a 'well-planned conspiracy', BJP calls it 'crocodile tears'

Mamata Banerjee visited Murshidabad on Monday

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited riot-hit Murshidabad on Monday and blamed the central government of "orchestrating communal violence" in the area. Hitting out at the BJP-led government, Banerjee said that instead of creating communal violence, the government should take care of borders - making a sharp reference to the recent Pahlgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives on April 22.

"I have unearthed most of the conspiracy, I will expose this before the media…Unfortunately, some media houses played into the hands of the BJP in spreading canards," Mamata said, adding, "Some outsiders and a few religious leaders are trying to incite violence and animosity among communities. Those who are inciting riots are enemies of West Bengal."

She also said that the families of those affected by the violence in Murshidabad are not being allowed to meet her. "Did the NHRC visit Manipur and Uttar Pradesh? They were prompt in visiting Murshidabad. Just like online payment platforms came out with front-page advertisements in newspapers a day after the announcement of demonetisation in 2016, the NHRC was quick to visit Murshidabad just after the riots took place. That is why I am saying that it was pre-planned," she said.

The Chief Minister also accused the BJP of "foul play" and said that the families of those affected in the Murshidabad violence were allegedly "shifted" to different places so that she could not meet them.

"The BJP took away the families of those affected by the Murshidabad riots so that they can’t meet me. Is this not kidnapping? What harm would it have caused, had I met them here and handed over them cheques," Mamata was quoted as saying.

"When you are in the chair, you cannot divide the people on a religious line," she further said, while accusing the centre of the violent situation in Murshidabad.

Meanwhile, Union Minister and BJP leader Giriraj Singh said that Mamata Banerjee visited Murshidabad 27 days after violence erupted in the area and called her claims "crocodile tears".

"Mamata Banerjee does vote bank politics and appeasement politics...She is the same Mamata Banerjee who had said that no one can expel any Bangladeshi in her presence...(In Murshidabad)," Giriraj said.

"Everything was done under the protection of the administration. When a feeling of anger arose among all Hindus in Bengal, Mamata Banerjee reached Murshidabad after 27 days to shed crocodile tears...Hindus are not safe there under her rule. The people of Bengal have understood this," he added.