We’ll shelter those fleeing other states, says Mamata Banerjee

KOLKATA: Bengal will provide shelter to people who flee from other states due to violence, chief minister Mamata Banerjee said on Friday, referring to the arrival of injured people from Jharkhand after clashes with police on Eid.

“Nobody has an idea what happened in Jharkhand on Eid. No channel covered the incident. Many of these people were shot at by police. They entered Bengal looking for shelter. If any person asks for shelter from any state or from across the border, we have to give them shelter according to UN convention. These injured victims are undergoing treatment here,” Banerjee said. She also referred to row over food habits of communities.

“Some people commented on food habits of the people of Kerala. They’re saying beef eaters will not get relief. What is this?” On the SC ruling on panchayat poll results, she said, “BJP, Congress and CPM continued to malign us during the elections. But people are with us. And panchayat elections are a local matter. As far as the number of uncontested seats are concerned, we have figures to show huge number of seats have remained uncontested in several other states.”