Bengal Violence: Home Ministry Strict – 4-Member Team Reached Kolkata, Human Rights and Women’s Commission also in Action

Seeing the wavering attitude of the Mamta Banerjee government on political violence in West Bengal, now the Union Home Ministry has come into action. A 4-member team has been formed for the investigation. This team has reached Kolkata.

The Union Home Ministry had also called a report from the state regarding the violence. There were also warnings in a strict tone on not sending the report. Now it has sent its own fact-finding team to the state. On May 2, as soon as the victory of the Trinamool Congress was decided, the attacks started on the opposition, especially the BJP workers. TMC goons are accused of violence.

A 4-member team led by an additional secretary-level officer of the Union Home Ministry will investigate the incidents of violence and the latest situation in Bengal. MHA’s team also includes a senior CRPF officer. On Thursday (May 6, 2021), the team reached Kolkata.

Earlier, the Union Home Ministry had written a letter to the Chief Secretary of West Bengal, saying that if the HMO does not get the report then it will be taken very seriously. The HMO first sent a letter to the Chief Secretary of Bengal 1 day after the counting of votes. Since law and order are under the exclusive jurisdiction of the State Government, the Center can make only minor intervention in it. The center can send as many advisories or teams as possible.

Some states have a history of not collaborating with central teams. People of central agencies have also been harassed. They are made to wait at the airport. Necessary security is not provided. There were some cases when such teams had to return from the airport itself.

Taking a serious view on post-poll violence in #WestBengal, the Ministry of Home Affairs has deputed a 4-member team, led by an Additional Secretary level official to visit the State and assess the ground situation. A team would reach the State today

— ANI (@ANI) May 6, 2021

The state government is also expected to cooperate with the central team and provide them the necessary information. The NHRC (National Human Rights Commission) and the NWC (National Commission for Women) have already swung into action on these cases of violence. The NHRC has also asked to form a fact-finding team and conduct an inquiry. The NWC has called for a report on the attacks on women.

This is also not the first time that Mamta Banerjee has defied the instructions of the Central Government in the case of political violence. In December 2020, when the BJP National President JP Nadda’s convoy was attacked, the MHA summoned the Chief Secretary of the state and the DGP to Delhi to discuss law and order but he did not leave. Mamta government did not accept the advice of sending 3 IPS officers to the center deputation for negligence in this case.