Deep Dive: Decoding Bengal's 'Blood Politics'
A deep dive into the geneses of endemic political violence in West Bengal.
As the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) shifts gear to mount a frontal attack on Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress in Bengal, it has made political violence its primary weapon, coming from none other than the prime minister himself.
"Those who are unable to challenge us through democratic ways have adopted violent means to eliminate BJP workers. If they think that they will be able to fulfill their dreams, I would like to say that people will teach them a lesson. Elections will come and go, maut ke khel se mat nahi mil sakta (you can not get votes by killings)," he said during his Bihar victory speech.
During his recent visit to Bengal, Home minister Amit Shah said more than 100 BJP workers have been killed since 2014 a claim disputed by the ruling TMC. “They are trying to create a fake narrative. Even a suicide by jilted lover is being termed a political death!” says TMC veteran Sougata Ray.
As the saffron brigade raises pitch over deteriorating law and order, Mamata Banerjee’s pet demand seeking imposition of Article 356 (President’s Rule) during her street fighter days against the CPIM is back to haunt her.
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