Cong, Shiv Sena (UT) slam BJP for fanning communal tensions during Ram Navami

New Delhi: The recent communal clashes during the Ram Navami celebrations in Bengal and other parts of the country have drawn strong condemnation from the Congress and Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena faction, and they alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is fanning the riots in states ruled by opposition parties and in states where elections are due.

The Congress and Shiv Sena (UT) have accused the BJP of causing ommunal tensions to flare up whenever the party is under stress, in order to gain political advantage. This accusation was made in reference to the recent communal clashes, which the opposition parties have strongly condemned.

"When BJP realises it is getting weakened, then they incite riots and polarise people..." Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge told reporters.

Sanjay Raut, ex-Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray's strongman, said, "Violence happening in Bengal is planned, sponsored and targeted by BJP... wherever elections are near or where BJP is weak, there are riots."

The opposition parties allege that the recent increase in violence is an attempt by the BJP to divert public attention from simmering issues such as rising prices of essential goods and unemployment, particularly in the wake of the upcoming elections in Karnataka. The opposition has also alleged that the BJP creates divisions among people based on religion and uses violence as a means to prepare the ground for the elections.

Former Congress leader and Union Minister Kapil Sibal slammed the BJP government at the Centre for the communal tensions that have been occurring across the country during Ram Navami celebrations.

Reacting to Home Minister Amit Shah’s remark that “Riots don’t take place under our rule”, Sibal said that “5415 communal riots reported between 2014-2020 (NCRB data). 2019 alone – 25 communal riots UP (9), Maharashtra (4), MP (2). Communal violence: Haryana (2021) highest cases, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh (April 2022)”.

In the wake of communal violence in West Bengal and Bihar, Sibal had on Sunday questioned the “silence” of Prime Minister Modi over the matter, and said “let not 2024 general elections be the reason” for the violence.

Last week, several states including Bihar, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh reported incidents of violence during Ram Navami processions, with clashes in Bengal garnering significant attention.

The state unit of the BJP in Bengal has accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the ruling Trinamool Congress of orchestrating violence against 'Ram bhakts' and contributing to a deteriorating law and order situation.

Violence during Ram Navami celebrations in Bihar's Nalanda and Sasaram districts resulted in one death and at least ten injuries. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who controversially switched from his alliance with the BJP to Lalu Prasad Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal last year, has announced a compensation of ₹5 lakh for the deceased's family.

Kumar has also blamed 'some people indulging in 'gadbad' (wrongdoing)' and attempting to disrupt communal harmony.