Political mud-slinging erupts in Bengal over Udaipur killing

Kolkata, June 29

Political mud-slinging erupted between the ruling Trinamool Congress and opposition BJP in West Bengal on Wednesday over Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's tweet in connection with the brutal broad daylight murder of a tailor in Udaipur on Tuesday.

Condemning the Udaipur killing, Banerjee tweeted on Wednesday, "Violence and extremism are UNACCEPTABLE, no matter what! I STRONGLY CONDEMN what happened in Udaipur. As law takes its own course of action, I urge everyone to maintain peace."

Soon after the Chief Minister issued this message, BJP's state unit chief, Sukanta Majumdar, and Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, ridiculed Banerjee for her message.

Majumdar issued a counter tweet wherein he questioned her sincerity in condemning and controlling incidents of violence and rape in West Bengal.

"When will you condemn and take strong action against the culprits in cases of rape and murder happening in Bengal under your rule," Majumdar asked.

Meanwhile, Adhikari uploaded a video of Banerjee addressing a recent public meeting where she said that on the occasion of Martyrs' Day on July 21, Trinamool Congress will give a call for �Jihad' against the BJP.

"There is no space for this kind of extremism in India and it's an imminent threat to our internal security. Such incidents are fuelled by regimes engaging in appeasement politics, who for the sake of vote-bank either instigate such elements or turn a blind eye when they run amok," Adhikari's tweet read.

Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress spokesman Kunal Ghosh said that the BJP leaders in West Bengal are so confused that they are resorting to fruitless politics over the Chief Minister's statement condemning the brutal killing in Udaipur.

On Tuesday afternoon, a person named Kanhaiya Lal was beheaded inside his tailoring shop on a crowded street in Udaipur for supporting now-suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma on social media over her controversial remarks on Prophet Muhammed.

Later on Tuesday evening, Rajasthan police arrested both the accused persons who have been identified as Gos Mohammad and Riaz, both residents of Surajpol area in Udaipur.

A video of the incident where the accused claimed responsibility for the murder had gone viral on social media.