'Those involved in Ram Navami clashes were outsiders': Mamata Banerjee's fresh attack on BJP

She made the remarks on a day when the Bengal police prevented a six-member fact-finding team, including former Patna High Court Chief Justice Narasimha Reddy, from visiting Hooghly district, which recently witnessed communal clashes surrounding Ram Navami celebrations.

Speaking to reporters Banerjee said all those who incited violence were outsiders and belonged to Bihar's Munger.

"All the accused, who incited violence in Howrah on Ram Navami, were from outside Bengal, some from Munger in Bihar. People from Bengal stay together, they don’t do ‘danga’. The police hadn’t given permission for their rally," she said.

Banerjee said the organisers had informed the police said that they would take out the procession during lunch hours, but the "BJP intentionally and deliberately took out the rally during the time of namaz to incite people".

Slamming the BJP for brandishing firearms in the rally, Banerjee said: "What was the need for BJP workers to carry out a procession with firearms? Why were those in the procession dancing with arms? What was the need of taking out rallies with bulldozers and tractors?"

Speaking on the role of Bengal police, the Chief Minister said: "There was absolutely no foul play by our police forces. The police, in a very tactful manner, tried to end the violence and control the situation. Now that the situation has been bought under control, BJP is sending a fact-finding team to further incite violence."

On the fact-finding team visiting Bengal to probe the Ram Navami clashes in the state, Banerjee said, "The BJP leaders are busy sending Fact-Finding Teams, Human Rights Team, Children Rights Team, Women Rights Team and what not. They are telling the media to parrot only BJP’s narrative and are busy spreading fake news."

"Who are these fact-finding teams? What do they do?" asked the visibly angry chief minister.

"Even today, fake news regarding ‘Keoratala Mahasashan’ is being spread. I will ask the police to probe the matter and bring the accused to the booking. There is a law regarding the spreading of fake news," she said.

On April 2, a clash broke out between BJP supporters during a Shobha Yatra (religious procession) in Hooghly, West Bengal.

The following day, April 3, there was another incident of stone-pelting in Rishra town, leading to the suspension of all suburban and long-distance express train services to and from Rishra railway station by the Eastern Railway.