No place for violence in democracy, West Bengal govt talking of strict action: Congress on panchayat poll clashes | India News
NEW DELHI: Days after clashes during West Bengal panchayat elections claimed 15 lives, the Congress on Monday stressed there is no place for violence in democracy and said the Mamata Banerjee government did not stand with people promoting violence.
Repolling was held on Monday in 696 booths across 19 districts of West Bengal where voting for the July 8 panchayat elections was declared void amid allegations of ballot box tampering and violence.
Whichever party is in power, if such things (violence) happen the question to be asked is whether they are standing with the culprits or against them. Had this happened with BJP in power, they would have stood with the culprits, claimed Congress spokesperson Gourav Vallabh.
“(Chief Minister) Mamata Banerjee or her government has not said that they are standing with the culprits. They are talking about taking the strictest action against the culprits. We believe that there is no place for violence in a democracy,” he told reporters.
“I think what we are seeing is that the Bengal government is not standing with the people promoting violence,” Vallabh said when asked to comment on the West Bengal government’s role after the violence in panchayat polls.
He said the Congress party is of the view that there is no place for violence in a democracy. “That is why we always say that we are opening ‘Mohabbat ki dukaan’ (shop for spreading love) in an environment of hatred,” the Congress spokesperson said.
Asked specifically to comment on whether the Congress party supported the Mamata Banerjee government after violence in panchayat polls claimed many lives, Vallabh said, “I categorically pointed out that there is a difference between standing with people who promote violence and standing against them.”
Incidentally, West Bengal Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, an MP from Baharampur, has appeared before the Calcutta high court seeking an investigation into the deaths during the July 8 panchayat polls by an independent agency.
Requesting the probe to be monitored by a sitting judge of the court, Chowdhury also prayed that adequate compensation be given to the families of the deceased and the injured. He also requested for deployment of adequate central forces in and outside counting centres.
Although the West Bengal Congress chief has been vocal against the Mamata Banerjee government, the Congress’ central leaders are looking to go soft on Banerjee in the wake of talks of opposition unity in the country ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Repolling was held on Monday in 696 booths across 19 districts of West Bengal where voting for the July 8 panchayat elections was declared void amid allegations of ballot box tampering and violence.
Whichever party is in power, if such things (violence) happen the question to be asked is whether they are standing with the culprits or against them. Had this happened with BJP in power, they would have stood with the culprits, claimed Congress spokesperson Gourav Vallabh.
“(Chief Minister) Mamata Banerjee or her government has not said that they are standing with the culprits. They are talking about taking the strictest action against the culprits. We believe that there is no place for violence in a democracy,” he told reporters.
“I think what we are seeing is that the Bengal government is not standing with the people promoting violence,” Vallabh said when asked to comment on the West Bengal government’s role after the violence in panchayat polls.
He said the Congress party is of the view that there is no place for violence in a democracy. “That is why we always say that we are opening ‘Mohabbat ki dukaan’ (shop for spreading love) in an environment of hatred,” the Congress spokesperson said.
Asked specifically to comment on whether the Congress party supported the Mamata Banerjee government after violence in panchayat polls claimed many lives, Vallabh said, “I categorically pointed out that there is a difference between standing with people who promote violence and standing against them.”
Incidentally, West Bengal Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, an MP from Baharampur, has appeared before the Calcutta high court seeking an investigation into the deaths during the July 8 panchayat polls by an independent agency.
Requesting the probe to be monitored by a sitting judge of the court, Chowdhury also prayed that adequate compensation be given to the families of the deceased and the injured. He also requested for deployment of adequate central forces in and outside counting centres.
Although the West Bengal Congress chief has been vocal against the Mamata Banerjee government, the Congress’ central leaders are looking to go soft on Banerjee in the wake of talks of opposition unity in the country ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
