WB: BJP-chief in trouble for brandishing weapons at Ram-Navami rally
West Bengal BJP Chief Dilip Ghosh is in trouble after his antics at the party's Ram Navami rally in Kharagpur. He was seen carrying a bow and arrows, brandishing a sword and fighting sticks. Ghosh said he was unaware of a weapon ban, but after his Sunday speech, violence had erupted in many places. He has now demanded to see the relevant government order.
Ram Navami saw clashes at various places in the state
The Ram Navami rallies in the state this time turned violent in many places. A man allegedly died and six policemen were injured in Hindu-Muslim clashes in Raniganj yesterday. A day before, a man was killed and five injured when Bajrang Dal members clashed with police in Purulia. Violence was also reported at Chinsurah (Hooghly), Kandi (Murshidabad) and elsewhere.
Did Lord Ram ask people to carry pistols, swords?: Banerjee
Right-wing groups have been angry after the state disallowed armed processions this time. After much hue and cry, rules were relaxed and it allowed only those organizers to conduct armed processions which have been doing so since a decade. Despite that, a procession by BJP leader Rahul Sinha had schoolchildren holding swords and tridents. Another by Bajrang Dal in Purulia also had sword-wielding minors.
After Ghosh's war cry for defying ban, violence erupts
Incidentally, Ghosh, the incumbent Kharagpur MLA who had faced a case last April for the exact charges, had given a cry to defy the state government's ban on weapons. "We will bring out processions with swords, tridents and mace throughout the state," he had said on Sunday morning. Though his rally was peaceful, his latest claim of not knowing about the ban was contrary.
Trinamool is embarassed due to our rally's success: Ghosh
The BJP leader now faces a suo motu non-bailable case for violating the arms act and holding a rally without permission, police said. BJP's West Bengal Mahila Morcha president Locket Chatterjee also faces a similar case for an armed procession in Birbhum, they added. Ghosh has alleged a political witch-hunt, saying Trinamool was embarrassed due to its "huge rally" and successful Ram Navami celebrations.
