|

September 24, 2017

India: leaked memos show various right-wing groups in West Bengal may create communal disturbances during Durga Puja / Muharram fests

[SEE excerpt from and link to report in National Herald ]

Internal Durga Puja memo leaked, Hindutva elements trying to foment communal disturbance in Bengal
Soibal Dasgupta
Updated: Sep 24th 2017, 09.10 AM

File photo of Durga Puja in Kolkata
A number of leaked memos show that various right-wing groups in West Bengal may have an action plan for these Pujas

Durga Puja ends with Bijaya Dashami and the next day Muslims mourn the historic loss of lives in the Battle of Karbala on the occasion of Muharram. In West Bengal, there has been peace for decades and both communities have never had major confrontations. But since 2014, there have been sudden attacks on temples and Muharram processions. And the number of such incidents are only growing. Though Bengali Hindu ritual prohibits idol immersion on the eleventh day, Ekadashi, this year BJP and its allies have been trying their best to provoke people to immerse the idols on the day, considered religiously inauspicious. The aim of this propaganda seems to be political rather than religious with an intention to create a massive law and order problem by pitting one community against another, National Herald has learnt from an insider who has leaked some information about the Sangh Parivar’s plans to create communal disturbance during Durga Puja.

Due to power struggle between BJP and Hindu Samhati, a number of details have been leaked outside the Hindu right wing circle. As per these details, Hindu Samhati is spreading unnecessary panic among the masses by circulating baseless and provocative notifications. These notifications claim that the Muslims are attacking Hindus in different unspecified areas and give a list of places where the Muslims will be attacking the Hindus during Durga Puja.

Hindu Samhati is the same organisation that was responsible for setting houses and shops on fire last year during the Hazinagar riot, as confessed by a member on camera in presence of its senior member Sujit Maity. Along with the said organisation, certain members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh also allegedly played an important role in organising a mob of looters and arsonists. This year too, the organisation is receiving good support from BJP members in spreading communal hatred. The list was intercepted recently with the help of a prominent member of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The list of areas are as follows:

Kolkata Area

1. Maheshtala ward no. 10-
Kali Tala, Jahajipara, Alampur Mullabari, Biswaspara and Doctorpara.

2. Maheshtala / Matiaburz border-
Ward no. 1 (Maila Depot),
Ward no. 2 (Garden Reach)
Ward no. 5 (Molla Para),
Ward no. 7 (Ankra Fatak),
Ward 12, 16 (Muller Gate, Residence of some Santosh), Jhinjira Bazar, Post Office Area and Bata More.

[ . . . ]

SEE FULL REPORT AT: https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/politics/internal-durga-puja-memo-leaked-hindutva-elements-trying-to-foment-communal-disturbance-in-bengal