Halt communal violence in WB

Very often communal violence in most places is triggered by minor incidents. The violence in Basirhat, Baduria and surrounding areas in the North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal also started from a Facebook post by a teenager which was considered derogatory by the minority community. The problem could have been resolved at the local level if there was an earnest effort for it. Instead, the situation was allowed to escalate and develop into a political confrontation involving the Trinamool Congress and the BJP, the chief minister and the governor, and the state government and the Centre. More importantly, it marks the disruption of an atmosphere of communal peace that has prevailed in the state for many decades. There has been social and political conflict and violence in the state but it has largely been free of communal eruptions. The Left Front government which ruled it for many decades and the Congress which was the main opposition had made conscious efforts not to exploit communal sentiments and had tried to maintain peace. But the scene may have changed now.

Both the Trinamool Congress and the BJP have to share the blame for the present situation. The Trinamool Congress has a solid support base among the Muslims who are considered to have shifted their allegiance to the party from the CPM. The party and its government under Mamata Banerjee are seen to be the protectors and benefactors of the minority community. The BJP has tried to turn this to its advantage by pandering to the Hindu sentiment and championing the majority community’s causes. West Bengal is among the states where the party has targeted in its next phase of growth. This has resulted in growing communal polarisation and the present situation is a sign of that reaching the stage of conflict and confrontation. This is dangerous in a state with a high minority population. Instead of working together to douse the communal fire, both parties have tried to take advantage of it.

The Union Home Ministry and the state government have different views and approaches, and the state has sent the central forces back. The BJP wants the state government dismissed and Mamata Banerjee has demanded recall of Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi who she says spoke to her like a ‘BJP block president’. Such stand-offs can only aggravate the situation. What is needed is strong and effective steps to end the violence and ease tension in the affected areas, and stern action against trouble-makers. The government should not be seen as having an unfair bias in favour of the minority community and the BJP should stop from exploiting the situation.