The top Trinamool Congress leadership hit out at Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday for what they called a “severe (security) lapse” that led to 12 deaths in Monday’s terror attack in Delhi.
“My heartfelt condolences go out to the bereaved families, and my prayers are with those recovering from their injuries. It is extremely distressing that such an incident has taken place in the heart of our national capital, Delhi,” TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee said, holding the Union Home Ministry responsible for the tragic deaths.
The Diamond Harbour MP, who is also the nephew of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, said that, as the Delhi Police, which functioned under the Union Home Ministry, was primarily responsible for maintaining law and order of the Capital, it was the Home Minister to should explain the lapses in security.
“How then, are such grave lapses in security being allowed to occur?” he asked, referring also to the seizure of huge quantity of explosives from Faridabad in Haryana earlier on Monday raising, “alarming questions about internal security and the evident decline in vigilance,” and demanding “an impartial, time-bound investigation,” into the Delhi blast to fix accountability.
Demanding Shah’s resignation, another senior MP, Kalyan Banerjee, said, “What is going on in the name of security management? Who is handling the security system, and what does Amit Shah have to say about the duty he was entrusted and the duty that he failed to perform? He should accept responsibility for the security lapses and resign.”
Party MP from Krishnagar, Mahua Moitra, too attacked Shah, saying the Delhi blast itself proved that India needed a capable Home Minister. Moitra wrote on social media, “India needs a capable Home Minister, not a full-time Hate Campaign Minister. Isn’t it… Amit Shah’s duty to protect both our borders as well as our cities? Why is he failing so spectacularly on all counts?”
Meanwhile, Kolkata was on high alert ahead of the India-South Africa test match, which would begin on Friday, with security agencies conducting random Naka checks around the city. This was in response to the Cricket Association of Bengal’s request to the Kolkata Police for additional forces to be deployed in and around Eden Gardens, where the match would be held.
Kolkata Commissioner of Police Manoj Verma, who took stock of the security system at the venue on Tuesday, said that “things are fine and all appropriate steps have been taken to ensure a foolproof security and nothing will be compromised, rampant checking is being conducted everywhere.”
Another senior official said that “alerts have been sent to all district superintendents of police and local police stations to step up security and remain vigilant,” particularly in the wake of developments on the eastern borders and neighbouring Bangladesh.
