The Trinamul Congress and opposition BJP on Friday were engaged in a war of words over the violence over a Ram Navami procession in Howrah city, with the saffron camp claiming that “appeasement politics” of the ruling party is behind the incident.

The TMC, on the other hand, alleged that it was a conspiracy of the BJP to polarise the society for political gain.

Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari said told a press meet that the violence was the result of the alleged appeasement politics of the Mamata Banerjee government which failed to rein in “anti-national forces”.

Stating that he moved the Calcutta High Court seeing an NIA probe into the incident, Adhikari said the chief minister must step down for her failure to control the violence and "apologise to Hindus for the attacks on their properties." TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee alleged in a press conference that the procession was taken out without police permission as part of a long-term attempt of the saffron camp to disrupt peace and harmony.

He also claimed that intelligence feedback suggested that the violence at Kazirapa was a deep-rooted conspiracy hatched by the BJP which wants to divide people on the basis of religion for political gains.

Waving two letters, purportedly sent by police to organisers of the Ram Navami processions, the Diamond Harbour MP said, "The police had instructed them that there should not be any display of arms including swords, no DJ music and the approximate number of people should be intimated and the route of the procession should be let known.” However, the organisers did not respond to the letters, the nephew of the chief minister claimed.

Had the administration stopped the procession, "our government would have been accused of hurting religious sentiments,” Banerjee said.

"Why did such an incident take place during Ram Navami? Remember, BJP leaders had met (Union Home Minister) Amit Shah in Delhi on March 27. There must be a link between the developments. The probe by state investigating agencies will bring out the whole truth, we want the real conspirators to be identified and brought to book," he added.

Banerjee also claimed Ram Navami clashes had never taken place in the state from 2011 when the TMC came to power to 2014, and started since 2015-16 when the BJP got a toehold in the state’s politics.

Showing a purported video where a youth is seen holding a revolver at a Ram Navami procession, he asked, "Who has imported this culture to Bengal? What Lord Rama has to do with a pistol?" Asked about the video shared by the TMC, Adhikari said, "BJP activists never believe in carrying weapons, including firearms in public, unlike the Trinamool Congress. Let the TMC provide evidence about the participation of our activists with firearms in the procession. We will take action against him." Accusing Mamata Banerjee of instigating the violence, Adhikari claimed: "She had voiced apprehension about violence during Ram Navami procession and cautioned people. How could she know it beforehand? “Over 1,000 processions were taken out all over the state on Ram Navami and minorities extended greetings to many of them. Only three incidents of violence took place, including the one at Howrah. Then who is behind the trouble – the TMC’s hooligans." Abhishek Banerjee, also posted a tweet labelling the BJP as "dangabaj" (riot mongers).

"BJP's dangabaji formula at work again. Provoke and instigate communities against each other. Supply weapons to incite violence. Create communal tension deliberately. Reap political benefits. A classic unholy blueprint right out of the @BJP4India playbook!," he tweeted.

Adhikari also demanded deployment of central paramilitary forces in the area.

Violence broke out on Thursday evening between two groups when a Ram Navami procession was taken out at Kazipra in Howrah. Several vehicles, including some belonging to the police, were torched and shops and auto-rickshaws ransacked.

In fresh unrest, policemen deployed at Kazipara were pelted with stones on Friday afternoon.

Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Telegraph Online staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.