The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched a scathing attack on the INDIA bloc and the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal following an alleged assault on two students from Bihar in Siliguri. The students were preparing for an SSC exam when they were reportedly attacked by a group of men.
The incident has triggered widespread outrage, with the BJP questioning the law and order situation in West Bengal. BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his concern, asking, “Is it prohibited for any Indian to go to any state?” He directed his query towards the INDIA bloc, highlighting their pronouncements regarding the Constitution and their Bharat Jodo Yatra.
Poonawalla further criticized the West Bengal government’s response, stating that while they should take appropriate action, the silence of RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on the incident is concerning. He pointed out that Yadav’s alliance with the Trinamool Congress (TMC), which governs West Bengal, is ironic considering past instances of discrimination against people from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in certain states.
Poonawalla’s criticism was echoed by Union Minister Giriraj Singh, who expressed his disapproval of the incident on X. He questioned the West Bengal government’s priorities, highlighting the contrast between the alleged assault on the Bihar students and the welcoming of Rohingya refugees in the state.
Meanwhile, the Siliguri police have apprehended two individuals, Rajat Bhattacharya and Giridhari Roy, on charges of harassment, intimidation, and assault against the Bihar students. The incident has sparked a heated debate, with political leaders from various parties condemning the violence and expressing concerns about the safety of outsiders in West Bengal.
The viral video of the alleged assault shows the students being questioned aggressively about their origins and their right to take the exam in West Bengal. The miscreants demanded to see their domicile certificates and subjected them to humiliating punishment. The incident has highlighted the deep-seated regional tensions and the need for better inter-state relations in India.
