Mamata alerts ministers on 'conspiracy, divisive forces'

KOLKATA: State ministers have been asked to stay put in their assembly constituencies during the festive days -Kali Puja, Diwali and Jagaddhatri Puja. The directive comes from none other than chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who sounded a word of caution against the simmering tension among communities in parts of the state during Durga Puja and Muharram. Mamata told her colleagues in the Cabinet meeting on Monday to ensure that things do not go out of control.“Didi told us not to leave station during the festival,“ a cabinet minister said.
Learning it the hard way from the recent clashes, police have also started discussions with clubs and puja organisers and are also holding meetings with community leaders.
Later during the day, while flagging off 50 fire engines at a government programme, the CM went a whole hog against “divisive forces“ that are trying to disturb the social fabric on religious lines. Mamata warned against a conspiracy to disturb communal harmony. “There are people who want to create trouble. They are hell-bent upon destruction and not creation. They desire only death, not life,“ Banerjee said, asking people to be extra vigilant during Kali Puja and Diwali. “Those who create division among people will some day drive a wedge within families and also within the locality . Don't tolerate such elements,“ the CM said. What's more is that the CM alerted the people not to pay heed to rumours and halftruths or give in to provocation. “Bengal has no place for such divisive forces. This is a land for unity and harmony. Bengal is an icon of unity in diversity,“ she said.
BJP state president Dilip Ghosh owned up the blame to take on the chief minister.“With CPM and Congress pushed to the wall, the CM knows very well that our party is a potential threat to her government.She is thus trying to brush her administrative failure under the carpet.We have sent all the details to the Centre. We know how to respond to this,“ said Ghosh.He held that peace has been breached in as many as 59 places. “First, the administration should stop extorting businessmen and terrorising people,“ the Kharagpur MLA said.
Left parties, on the other hand, held that both Trinamool and BJP have a hand in the clashes that marred the festive spirit in several areas.CPM has asked its activists to remain alert during the festival days.