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Mamata's advice to gherao central forces instigated people to attack CISF, says Amit Shah

'It was extremely unfortunate. But even more unfortunate is the way the incident is being politicized'
Last Updated 11 April 2021, 17:47 IST

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said that it was because of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s instigation against the Central forces that people at Sitalkuchi attacked them, resulting in four deaths after the jawans opened fire in self-defense.

Firing a fresh salvo at the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo, Shah alleged even in case of deaths she was resorting to appeasement politics. Shah said that she did not bother to condole the death of another youth also in Sitalkuchi Assembly seat in Cooch Behar district as he did not belong to her vote bank.

Describing the incident as “extremely unfortunate” Shah said that some unknown persons attacked a polling booth in Sitalkuchi and the Central forces had to open fire in self-defense when the crowd tried to snatch their arms.

“It was extremely unfortunate. But even more unfortunate is the way the incident is being politicized. I have seen Mamata didi’s statements. Recently she asked the people to gherao the Central forces. My question to Didi will be, is your speech not responsible for the deaths? Would the incident have taken place without your speech?” said Shah.

Speaking to reporters at a roadshow at Santipur in Nandia district, he said that the TMC supremo resorted to appeasement politics by not condoling the death of Anand Barman as he was not part of her vote bank.

“Mamata didi condoled the death of four persons but not the death of Anand Barman who was killed in the same area by goons as he belonged to the Rajbanshi community who do not belong to her vote bank,” said Shah.

Warning the Chief Minister, Shah said that there was still time and she should mend her ways by condoling Barman’s death and apologizing to the people. “Didi, you still have time. Condole the death of Anand Barman and apologize to the people,” said Shah.

Observing that the first three phases of polling in the Assembly elections were peaceful, Shah urged all political parties to abide by the directives of the Election Commission.

The TMC leadership, however, denied the allegation. Speaking to reporters, TMC MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy said that “Mamata Banerjee had paid tributes to all the five persons who died in Sitalkuchi on Saturday. Shah is indulging in blatant falsehood.”

Speaking at a rally later in the day Shah took potshots at Mamata's demand of his resignation over the Sitalkuchi incident. " Didi wants me to resign. Didi, if people want I will resign. But after May 2, you will definitely have to resign," said Shah.

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(Published 11 April 2021, 10:54 IST)

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