Thread by @OpIndia_com

On March 30, a Ram Navami procession came under attack by Islamists in the Shibpur area of #Howrah.

The extremists initially pelted stones from rooftops, and then resorted to large-scale vandalism, and arson attacks.

Thread (1/n):

Visuals shared on social media showed upturned vehicle, burnt cars and rubble on the streets of Howrah.

https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1641423381143896066

(2/n)

Meanwhile, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee was busy in her sit-in protest against the Central government at Indira Gandhi Sarani in Central Kolkata.

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She insinuated that violence occurs when Hindus take out Ram Navami processions through ‘Muslim areas'

opindia.com/2023/03/muslim…

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Mamata Banerjee had also blamed 'outsiders' for the violence in Howrah and claimed that the Ram Navami yatra passed through an 'unauthorised route.'

Listen in:

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Her claims were refuted by the organisers of the Ram Navami Shobhayatra Rally.

“We have never diverted our route…We are organising Ram Navami rally for the past 10 years,” a member of the organising team told Republic TV.

opindia.com/2023/03/hindus…

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Mamata Banerjee had also dismissed the role of Islamists in the violence.

“Ai somoi ta tara kunu anyay kore na karon ata holo Allah er kache oder sacrifice"

#Translation: During Ramzan, Muslims don’t commit ‘injustice’ as this is the time of sacrifice for Allah.

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“The police were given direct instructions – There was Annapurna Puja on one side and Muslims were observing Ramzan fast (Roja) on the other."

"We have 33% Muslims in the State. Their families observe fast during Ramzan.”

opindia.com/2023/03/mamata…

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On March 31, fresh violence broke out in Howrah.

opindia.com/2023/03/w-fres…
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A similar fate befell the Hindu community during Ram Navami in April last year.

At that time, Islamists attacked a Shobhayatra rally with stones near Fazir Bazar in Howrah.

opindia.com/2022/04/west-b…

(10/n)