Do not allow BJP's divisive agenda to succeed: Mamata

Reiterating that the BJP is inciting violence, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee raised a clarion call and asked people not to support it in order to "save India from a disaster" that the saffron brigade is attempting to ensure in every possible way.

Speaking at a public meeting, the Chief Minister said: "We (Bengal) do not want to create division among people. Delhi does that but not Bengal. Delhi has to follow Bengal in how to progress forward with every religion if they want to be in power."

The CM said: "It is not the duty of a government to incite trouble. Instead, an elected government should work to ensure protection of the common man and it is our work."

In the same breath, she said without naming Prime Minister Narendra Modi, that actual leaders are the ones who stand beside the masses and work for them. The actual leader of the country should work to maintain peace. "He can never be the leader of the country who sets it afire," Banerjee said at Nandakumar in East Midnapore.

"In a video clipping I found that women were engaged in learning how to operate guns in Assam and the training is being given by Viswa Hindu Parishad members. They had also tried the same in Cooch Behar but were caught," Banerjee said after raising the question that who are they to provide training on operating guns and asserted that there is the Indian Army for the same purpose.

Raising a question as to how riots are being organised by people from outside when it is the duty of the Centre to guard the borders, Banerjee stated: "You (Centre) had opened up the border and let them enter the state and now you are asking the state to submit report. It's because we are in the government that we have been able to keep the people calm despite such conspiracy against us. Both the Central and state governments are elected by the people. Then why is the Central government conspiring against a state government? Why are they spreading lies against a state? I want an answer to this."

She further added: "Today they have been caught. They have posted a photograph of an incident that took place at Kumila in Bangladesh and even a still photograph from a Bhojpuri movie has been posted claiming that they took place in Bengal.

"A BJP MLA from Hyderabad posted on Facebook on why Bengal will not turn into Godhra. They have nothing to do apart from creating tension sometimes in the name of gauraksha and sometimes through riots. I would like to tell them that you cannot do this (incite tension) and this is my challenge to the Government of India," she maintained.

She also claimed her state was getting no cooperation from the Centre in any matter.

"I am very saddened to say that there has been non-cooperation from them (Centre). Despite the court order, no force has been deployed in Darjeeling," she added.

Thanking the people of her state for not supporting politics of division, Banerjee said: "I would like to thank the people of this state for showing their patience and helping the administration to tackle the situation."

Nobel laureate Amartya Sen on Monday expressed concern over the communal riot in Basirhat and said it has to be seen why it has happened in West Bengal which has a tradition of communal harmony.

"Communal flare up is a matter of concern. It has to be found out whether it has happened due to provocation by some," he said here.

He said that West Bengal has a tradition of communal harmony where Hindus and Muslims lived together. "We have to think why it has happened. We have to think how we can check it." Violence had erupted between two communities at Basirhat sub-division in North 24 Paraganas district last week over an objectionable Facebook post.