A student protest rally turned violent in Kolkata on Friday (PTI)
NEW DELHI: West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday alleged that the violence during a protest rally in Kolkata over the NEET question paper leak was orchestrated by “Islamic fundamentalists,” claiming they may have been supported by “foreign forces.”Adhikari made the remarks while speaking to reporters in Nandigram after attending a programme to commemorate Kargil Vijay Diwas, marking the 27th anniversary of India’s victory over Pakistan in the 1999 Kargil War.Claiming that those involved in the violence had no connection to the student-led agitation, he said, “There is no connection between these people and the movement. They are not students. They are Jamaati (Islamic) fundamentalists.
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Probe agencies will determine whether foreign forces backed them.””The violence may have been fuelled by resentment over several decisions of the BJP government in the state, including action against unregistered madrassas, implementation of court directions relating to OBC certificates, enforcement of cattle slaughter laws and measures to curb noise pollution,” he added.Referring to the assault on a journalist during the protest, Adhikari alleged that media personnel were “deliberately targeted” and that there were “attempts on their lives.” Clashes erupted between Left-backed protesters and police during the demonstration, prompting security forces to resort to baton charges and fire tear gas shells to disperse the crowd.The West Bengal government invoked its newly enacted anti-goonda law against those accused of orchestrating the violence during the protest, with the chief minister warning that they would face punishment “their next three generations will remember.”Adhikari had earlier told the assembly that around 70 people identified from the rally were “not students” and had no connection with the agitation over the alleged NEET question paper leak.(With PTI inputs)
