The flames of discord in West Bengal’s Beldanga refuse to die down, prompting BJP stalwart Suvendu Adhikari to appeal to Governor C.V. Ananda Bose for emergency measures. In a meticulously drafted letter, the opposition heavyweight chronicles the descent into anarchy in Murshidabad, where festival fervor turned into a bloodbath of destruction and division.
Trigger: Reports of provocative sloganeering during a Puja procession clashing with local sentiments. Retaliation was swift and savage—mobs wielding machetes and molotovs swept through markets, selectively gutting non-local owned stores. The inferno claimed dozens of vehicles and buildings, with black smoke billowing over the town as dawn broke.
Adhikari spares no punches, indicting Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for fostering an environment of impunity. He urges the Governor to recommend central intervention, deploy CRPF battalions, and institute a special investigation team free from state influence. ‘This is not mere rioting; it’s a systemic collapse,’ he asserted.
On-ground reality: Trauma centers overflowed with the wounded, while unaffected neighborhoods patrolled vigilante groups. Police resorted to lathi charges and tear gas, but critics say force was unevenly applied. BJP fact-finding teams documented over 50 incidents of arson, bolstering Adhikari’s claims.
TMC’s riposte accused Adhikari of exaggeration for political mileage, but visuals belie their narrative. The Governor, attuned to Bengal’s volatile undercurrents, may summon DGP and Home Secretary for clarifications. This standoff exemplifies the deepening chasm between Dispur and Raj Bhavan.
Beyond immediate containment, Adhikari calls for dialogue to heal divides, warning against electioneering over human lives. Beldanga stands as a stark reminder of Bengal’s fault lines—economic disparities, demographic shifts, and governance gaps. The Governor’s response will set the tone for handling future flashpoints in this election-bound state.