Amit Malviya, the head of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) IT Cell, ignited a political controversy with his remarks on the alleged assault of sadhus in West Bengal’s Purulia district. Malviya took to social media to express his outrage, describing the incident as “absolutely shocking” and accusing the Trinamool Congress (TMC)-led government of failing to protect Hindus in the state.
The incident, captured in a video circulating on social media, purportedly shows a group of sadhus being stripped and assaulted by a mob. The sadhus were reportedly traveling to Gangasagar for Makar Sankranti, a Hindu festival, when the incident occurred. Malviya drew a parallel to the Palghar lynching incident and criticized the TMC for alleged complicity in the attack.
“Absolutely shocking incident reported from Purulia in West Bengal. In a Palghar kind lynching, sadhus traveling to Gangasagar for Makar Sankranti were stripped and beaten by criminals affiliated with the ruling TMC,” Malviya tweeted from his official handle.
“In Mamata Banerjee’s regime, a terrorist like Shahjahan Sheikh gets state protection and sadhus are being lynched. It is a crime to be a Hindu in West Bengal,” he added, escalating the political narrative.
The ruling TMC did not immediately respond to Amit Malviya’s post or the incident. The political rivalry between the TMC and BJP has been escalating, particularly with an eye on the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha Elections.
The Gangasagar Mela, a religious congregation during Makar Sankranti, has been a focal point of contention. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to declare it a “national fair.” She expressed regret that the Centre wasn’t giving due recognition to the event.
“Considering the uniqueness, significance, magnitude, and spiritual depth associated with the Gangasagar Mela, I would earnestly appeal to you to kindly consider declaring Gangasagar Mela a National Fair,” she wrote to Modi, also inviting him to visit the event.
While the BJP accused the Mamata Banerjee government of failing to maintain law and order, the TMC claimed that the locals responded to provocations from Enforcement Directorate (ED) teams conducting raids in connection with an alleged ration scam in the state.
The incident involving the sadhus adds fuel to the ongoing political battle in West Bengal, raising questions about religious freedom, security, and the larger law and order situation in the state. As political tensions intensify, both parties are likely to leverage the incident to rally support and shape the narrative leading up to the elections.