West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee says, 'Bengal is not UP, won't allow this here'

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. File Pic

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday condemned the assault on two food vendors at a recent Gita recital in Kolkata, asserting that such acts of intimidation would not be tolerated in the state.

Addressing a public meeting in Krishnanagar in Nadia district, the chief minister said, "All of them (accused) have been arrested. This is West Bengal, not Uttar Pradesh. They beat up patty sellers... we arrested everyone last night."

She accused the BJP of trying to import a culture of communal division into the state.

Training her guns on the saffron party, Banerjee said, "I do not believe in communal divisions. I want to walk with all religions. What is the need to hold a public meeting just to read the Gita? Those who pray to God or seek blessings from Allah do so in their hearts."

Taking a dig at "those invoking religious texts for political mobilisation", she added, "I want to ask those who keep chanting 'Gita, Gita' -- what did Sri Krishna say about dharma? Dharma means to uphold, not to divide. They want to destroy West Bengal. They want to capture the state and stop people from speaking in Bengali. We all read and recite the Gita. What is the need to hold a meeting for that?"

Kolkata Police arrested three men on Wednesday night for allegedly assaulting two food vendors at the 'Paanch Lokkho Konthe Gita Paath' (Gita recitation in five lakh voices) at Brigade Parade Ground here on December 7.

The arrests were made on the basis of two complaints lodged at Maidan police station, a senior officer said.

The complainants, hailing from Topsia in Kolkata and Arambagh in Hooghly district, had gone to the venue to sell chicken patties when they were allegedly attacked.

The accused reportedly threw away their stock and forced them to perform sit-ups while holding their ears.

A video of the incident went viral on social media.

Police said the arrests were made after verification of footage and other evidence.

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