The West Bengal BJP has launched a fierce attack on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her party, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), accusing them of attempting to impose Sharia law in the state. This accusation follows an alleged public trial and mob violence incident involving a woman, which reportedly had the involvement of an aide to a TMC MLA.
BJP leader Agnimitra Paul questioned whether Mamata Banerjee and her MLA Hamidur Rahman were trying to turn Bengal into an "Islamic state" and impose "Sharia Law." This criticism comes after a video surfaced showing a woman and a man being beaten in Uttar Dinajpur district's Chopra area. Both the BJP and CPI(M) allege that Trinamool workers were responsible for the violence.
Chopra MLA Hamidur Rahman justified the mob's actions, labeling the woman an "evil beast" and criticizing her activities as "unsocial." In response, Paul demanded that severe charges be filed against the primary accused, Tezmul Islam, also known as JCB, who is reportedly close to Rahman. Paul also called for Mamata Banerjee to make a statement regarding the incident and the broader issue of violence against women.
BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia condemned Banerjee's silence on the matter, arguing that as both a woman and the Chief Minister, she should have been the first to condemn the incident. BJP women MLAs staged a protest within the West Bengal Assembly to draw attention to the issue.
In reaction to the outcry, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose requested a report from the Chief Minister concerning the incident. An official from Raj Bhavan stated that the Governor was shocked by the event and condemned it strongly.
Following the incident, which occurred on Friday but came to light through a viral video on Sunday, the police have registered a case. The main accused, Tezmul alias JCB, has been arrested. The BJP has demanded Mamata Banerjee's resignation, citing a significant decline in the state's law and order.
