VHP seeks President Kovind's intervention in West Bengal post-poll violence

Describing the situation as "alarming" in the state, the VHP urged the president to take note of it and advise the Union government to take appropriate measures to re-establish the rule of law in West Bengal. 

"The wild, hysterical and uninhibited statewide violence in West Bengal is agenda-led, premeditated and preplanned," the VHP alleged in its letter to the president on Tuesday. 

During the state assembly polls, the VHP claimed that TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, whose party has won the polls with a thumping majority, had issued threats, saying the central security forces would be in the state till the elections only and after the polls, she would be at the helm of affairs. 

"With the announcement of the election results in West Bengal, the workers of the ruling TMC party in league with the ''Jihadists'' have been perpetrating the most barbaric violence in the state," VHP working president Alok Kumar alleged. 

The TMC government in West Bengal is "failing" in its duty to ensure the due protection of law to all the residents of the state, he charged. 

"It seems that the police and the administration have been signalled to look the other way and to ignore these unlawful violent episodes… This reminds of the ''Direct Action'' known as the ''Great Calcutta Killing'' of 1946 that was perpetrated by the pro-Pakistan Muslim League," he added. 

The BJP has alleged that nine of its workers have been killed in the post-poll violence in West Bengal while several others have been injured in various incidents. 

The TMC, however, has rejected the BJP’s allegations. 

"With the partnership enterprise of the TMC workers and the Jihadis, the opposition workers are being killed openly. From Coochbehar to Sundarban, the Hindu populace is being terrorised to flee and migrate from their native places,” the VHP claimed. 

Seeking the president's intervention in West Bengal post-poll violence, the VHP demanded that the rioters must be identified without any further delay, investigations are completed and those involved in the violence be “expeditiously punished” through fast-track courts. 

The riot-affected people must be rehabilitated and compensated by the government for the loss of their life and property, it also demanded. 

"As the violence continues unabated, it has become clear to the country that unless the administration of Bengal is not put under right checks and balances immediately, this term can be disastrous. It may be that the Hindu society itself at some places might be forced to devise ways to defend itself. Both these scenarios are matters of concern for the whole country,” the VHP working president said in his letter to Kovind.