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Episodes of ghar wapasi-From shaving head to cleansing with Sanitizer

Ghar-wapasi

It seems that the nightmare of losing West Bengal election is not going to leave BJP anytime soon. A group of 150 BJP workers joined Trinamool Congress in Birbhum after a ‘purification’ ritual. Prior to returning back to TMC, the BJP workers were ‘cleaned’ with sanitizer in Birbhum in West Bengal.

The incident took place in Ilambazar block of Birbhum. The local leader has claimed that these BJP workers had the “virus of BJP in them and they were cleansed with sanitizer”.

A video of the incident has emerged and is doing rounds on the social media. It shows the local leaders using sanitization equipment to spray the disinfectant while the BJP workers (returning to TMC) walk past them. The ‘cleansing’ process was done at a party event in Birbhum. The event was attended by local TMC leaders.

Also Read: TMC vs BJP-Giving too much attention on criticizing a non-existential opponent can cause problem

Earlier, around 200 BJP workers in Hooghly district joined the TMC after shaving off their heads and sprinkling Gangajal to atone themselves.

Almost two months after the drubbing in assembly election, BJP workers in Hooghly claimed that it was a huge mistake to join BJP. Subsequently, their ghar wapasi (homecoming) took place at a public ceremony. Prior to shifting back into TMC, they shaved their heads and sprinkled Gangajal to “atone” for their mistake, after being “purified”.

Arambagh MP Aparupa Poddar was present during the event.

The political workers who returned from BJP apologised in public, ‘atoning’ for their deviation before they went under the flag of the TMC.

In second week of June, many BJP workers had taken to the streets in the state capital and other towns to express their remorse for backing the saffron party in the Assembly polls.  They declared that they “misunderstood” BJP. They apologised with public announcement systems atop e-rickshaws in Kolkata, Labhpur, Bolpur and Sainthia in Birbhum district, and Dhaniakhali in Hooghly district.

Also Read: Sitakulchi firing-Facts on the ground do not add up with the claims by the central forces

These developments came in the backdrop of allegations and counter-allegations of post-poll violence in West Bengal. In this regard, Calcutta High Court has ordered a probe into the allegations of post-poll violence by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

BJP blames that “intimidation” tactics of TMC were behind these developments.

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Fake news being circulated regarding the post-poll violence in West Bengal

West Bengal faced post-poll violence as the vote counting showed a massive victory of TMC over BJP in the assembly election. The social media storm triggered by this post-poll violence in the state has led to a plea being filed in Supreme Court by a trust based in Chennai.

An aspect of the violence that has been overlooked by many is that the casualties range across parties.

Among the 12 dead in the post-poll violence, six were from BJP, five were from TMC and one was from ISF.

Incidents at Arambagh and Belaghata were under focus of many News agencies. In parallel, there was an incident where people associated with TMC in Sandeshkhali were attacked, which got next to nil attention.

Local people in these areas alleged that BJP leaders are stoking the violence as the party is unable to digest its defeat in the assembly election.

Also Read: What led to BJP’s defeat-Important highlights at the conclusion of the West Bengal election

There was also a case where fake news was being circulated and peddled through Twitter. In a Twitter post, a claim was made regarding alleged gangrape of women poll agents of BJP and incidents of molestation in Birbhum.

This turned out to be a fake news as it was found to be false by West Bengal police.

There has been a disinformation campaign regarding the violence, which many fear can take dangerous turns fuelled by the fake news circulated around. The citizen’s group ‘No Vote to BJP’ has urged the people and leaders within various political parties including the Left front to prevent the spread of disinformation on social media.

Also Read: Mamata Banerjee wins Bengal election but loses Nandigram to Suvendu Adhikari

Some observers opine that these developments are part of machinations by BJP after it’s humiliating defeat in West Bengal, in a possible attempt to paint a lawless picture in the state and bring in President Rule.

It is worthwhile to note that phrases like President Rule, and Governor rule are being tweeted by accounts which visibly support BJP.

This is not an unfounded claim. There has been a development in this regard.

Indic collective trust, a Chennai based trust has moved the Supreme Court to impose President’s rule in West Bengal claiming that the law and order situation has worsened in the state. Response of the Apex Court is yet to come.

The situation is more or less peaceful but there is a subtly tense environment in the state which has returned TMC to the helm of power.

Mamata Banerjee, whose party has secured a resounding victory against BJP, is set to take oath on May 05.