West Bengal: Mamata hits out at Modi govt; BJP lawmakers detained for trying to visit riot-hit Basirhat

A Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) central team was on Saturday detained and stopped from visiting riot-hit areas in Basirhat, around 80 kms from West Bengal.

The BJP MPs comprising Meenakshi Lekhi, Om Mathur, Satyapal Singh were stopped by the police, following which an argument also took place between them.

"Do you know we are parliamentarians? If a privilege motion comes into force, it will be difficult for you. (Hum saansad hain pata hai aapko? Privilege motion aa jaayega to aap mar jaaoge)," BJP MP Om Mathur told the officer who stopped them.

However, when Meenakshi Lekhi asked the officer if he agrees that there was a problem in the region, the police said that there was no problem, but it could arise if they visited the area.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hit out at Modi government. 

"Centre has a non-cooperative attitude, border areas are being disturbed with foreign hands having good relations with BJP," she told media.

The Chief Minister also said that she will ask for judicial inquiry into incidents at Baduria and Basirhat.

Clashes broke out between members of two communities at Baduria in the Basirhat sub-division of North 24-Parganas district earlier this week over an objectionable Facebook post by a young man who has been arrested.

The West Bengal government said the situation was under control in Baduria, Swarupnagar, Deganga and Basirhat, which had witnessed violence. Prohibitory orders are in force there.

People in the troubled areas chose to stay indoors with shops and schools remaining closed and the transportation badly hit.

#WATCH: Argument between BJP delegation and police after the delegation was stopped from entering #Basirhat, West Bengal. pic.twitter.com/PuyzlroSkz

— ANI (@ANI_news) July 8, 2017

On Friday, the BJP, Left and Congress delegations were prevented from visiting Basirhat. Ignoring an appeal by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, a BJP delegation, led by MP Roopa Ganguly, which was heading towards Baduria, was detained by the police at Michael Nagar near Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport here.

A campaign has been undertaken by the state administration for restoration of peace.

In New Delhi, Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu described the communal violence in Basirhat as "unfortunate" and requested the state government to take effective steps to protect all people - "whether minority or majority".