Mamata Engineering Polarisation Politics in Bengal: BJP

Kolkata, Feb 3 (IANS) The BJP Tuesday accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her government of "engineering polarisation politics" and avoiding a debate on an anti-conversion law.

BJP national secretary Siddharth Nath Singh charged Banerjee with "engineering polarisation politics by playing the dirty card of communalisation".

"Therefore, please do not play that card," Singh told media here, in the wake of an allegation by Banerjee, also the Trinamool Congress supremo, that the Bharatiya Janata Party was fomenting communal tension in the state and using money to convert people.

Banerjee had attacked the BJP in the wake of reports of alleged forced religious conversions of over 100 tribals in the state, while an FIR was registered against Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) chief Pravin Togadia and functionary Jugal Kishore for hurting religious sentiments.

The Trinamool had alleged that the VHP conducted a "ghar wapsi" ceremony at Kharmadanga village in Rampurhat area of Birbhum district Wednesday during which over 100 Christians were "forcibly" converted.

The VHP denied the charges of conversion but claimed that a Hindu religious ceremony was conducted that saw the participation of more than 1,000 people from the village, including Muslims and Christians.

Singh said the intentions of the Trinamool Congress-led state government are "suspect" since it "runs away" from the debate of passing the anti-conversion law.

"There is big difference between what she says and does. There is a contradiction in many of her policies and intents. BJP can only say that the chief minister doesn't practise what she preaches and definitely the TMC government's intent is suspect," he said.

Singh said the BJP doesn't support forced conversions.

"BJP is clear on forced conversions. It is against the practise and then it becomes the responsibility of the state government to prevent such practices and arrest those involved instead of doing politics on it.

"BJP also says that when TMC is so concerned about secularism, then why shouldn't the anti-conversion law be passed," he said.

Singh said the Trinamool is not cooperating with the BJP on fighting poverty, the root cause of forced conversions.

"Why are TMC and other so-called secular brigades running away from this debate of passing the anti-conversion laws because of vote bank politics.

"BJP says 'join us' in fighting against poverty which leads to conversions. But you don't come because you have to do politics in Bengal. Do not blame BJP," he said.