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regular-article-logo Saturday, 06 July 2024

BJP will try to spread fake news to shift focus from Manipur issue: Mamata Banerjee

Didi's warning to ministers came on a day BJP MPs held a demonstration in front of Parliament to protest against an alleged incident in which two women had been assaulted and stripped in Malda

Arkamoy Datta Majumdar Calcutta Published 25.07.23, 05:57 AM
Mamata Banerjee

Mamata Banerjee File picture

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee said on Monday that the BJP and its ecosystem would try to spread rumours in Bengal in the aftermath of the Manipur violence and asked her cabinet colleagues to be on alert against such attempts, said sources.

She was speaking at a cabinet meeting, hours after the Trinamul Congress's legislative team announced that it would bring a resolution in the Assembly condemning the violence in the northeastern state.

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"The BJP will try to spread fake news. (You will) have to be careful about them. There has been some problem in some places. Everyone must work to maintain peace in their respective areas," Mamata was quoted to have told her cabinet colleagues.

Her warning to ministers came on a day BJP MPs participated in a demonstration against the Bengal government in front of Parliament to protest against an alleged incident in which two women had been assaulted and stripped in Malda.

The saffron ecosystem has already handpicked incidents of crime against women in Bengal as a counter against the Manipur government's failure to control violent incidents.

Referring to such attempts, Mamata told her ministers that the Opposition was hatching a conspiracy by highlighting the Malda incident.

According to a minister present at the meeting, Mamata was concerned that the BJP ecosystem might circulate fake videos in an attempt to disturb Bengal's law and order so that they can shift the focus from Manipur.

"Didi is aware of their crude tactics and that is why she asked us to be on our toes," the leader said.

That Mamata will keep a keen eye on the situation in Manipur and how it affects the rest of the country was evident from her speech on Friday during Trinamul's annual Martyrs' Day event.

Three days later, on Monday, Bengal’s parliamentary affairs minister Sovandeb Chatterjee announced that Trinamul would bring a resolution in the Assembly on the Manipur issue.

"A resolution will be tabled in the Assembly. Just like the rest of the nation, even we are very sad about what is happening in Manipur. The role of the Union government is very unfortunate," Chatterjee said.

He did not say when the resolution would be moved but said the date would be finalised at the business advisory committee's meeting supposed to be held on Wednesday.

BJP's chief whip Manoj Tigga said his party's parliamentary team would discuss and decide whether it would participate in the debate on the resolution.

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