Paramilitary forces should be called to assist police in arson-hit places of West Bengal: Suvendu Adhikari

Suvendu Adhikari told reporters that there should be a high-level meeting by the Chief Secretary, the DGP, Home Secretary and top bureaucrats on an emergency basis in view of the situation in the State.

West Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari on June 13 alleged that there is inaction by the Mamata Banerjee government to check incidents of loot and arson in the State over alleged derogatory comments on Prophet Muhammad and said the paramilitary forces should be called to assist the police to contain the violence.

Mr. Adhikari, who led a sit-in at the entrance of the Assembly Hall along with six suspended BJP MLAs, told reporters that there should be a high-level meeting by the Chief Secretary, the Director General of Police, Home Secretary and top bureaucrats on an emergency basis in view of the situation in the State.

"We are all peace lovers ... Unruly hooligan elements should be dealt with sternly. The bureaucracy has to be more pro-active and not work at the behest of one political party or its leaders, but in an impartial manner," Mr. Adhikari, who is the Leader of Opposition said.

Protests against remarks on Prophet Mohammad by two suspended BJP functionaries had turned violent in Howrah, Murshidabad and Nadia, prompting the administration to suspend internet services and restrict movement of people.

Mr. Adhikari, who was not allowed to visit trouble-torn pockets of Howrah on Sunday, said that police should be accompanied by Central paramilitary forces to restore peace in the troubled pockets in the three districts.

Asked whether an all party meeting will be held to discuss the situation, Mr. Adhikari said “This (TMC) government does not believe in accommodating the Opposition. It undemocratically suspended seven of our MLAs, including the Leader of the Opposition to crush any dissenting opinion.”