Kolkata, 12 June (H.S.) : West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday issued a strong warning to those attempting to disrupt law and order in the state, declaring that his government would deal firmly with anyone seeking to incite violence or take the law into their own hands in the name of religion.

Addressing a press conference at the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre in New Town, Adhikari made it clear that the new BJP government would adopt a zero-tolerance approach towards communal unrest, violent protests, and attempts to challenge the authority of the state.

The Chief Minister's remarks came in response to questions regarding the controversial protests at Kolkata’s Park Circus and concerns over incidents of unrest in certain parts of the state.

Without naming any specific group, Adhikari referred to a series of past disturbances and said that some elements had attempted to test the resolve of the new administration after the change of government in West Bengal.

“You may be referring to incidents in places like Dhuliyan, Samserganj, Mothabari and Beldanga,” he said while responding to a question on law-and-order challenges.

Using a domestic analogy, the Chief Minister remarked that after the formation of the new government, there had been a couple of attempts to gauge how the administration would respond.

“Just as people check whether rice is cooked by pressing a few grains, there were a few attempts to test this government. One was in Asansol, where an attempt was made to attack a person's house. The second was at Park Circus,” he said.

Sending a direct message to those involved in violence and unrest, Adhikari asserted that strict action by the administration had already delivered results.

“I think you are not seeing such incidents anymore, are you? And you will not see them in the future either. If such things happen again, people will see a side of me that is far tougher than they have seen so far,” the Chief Minister said.

The remarks are being viewed as one of the strongest statements yet from the Chief Minister on the BJP government's law-and-order policy since assuming office. The government has repeatedly maintained that maintaining public order and taking swift action against communal violence and rioting will remain among its top priorities.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh