Will inform PM about 'lawless situation' in West Bengal: BJP

Miffed over attacks on BJP workers in West Bengal, party Vice President Balbir Punj today said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be informed about the "lawless situation" in the state so as to ensure all constitutional measures are taken to restore law and order.
"What is going on in West Bengal is mindless violence and it has created a lawless situation. Poor and common people are being attacked as they belong to BJP or have supported BJP in the last election. We stand by our workers and supporters," he told PTI over phone after his visit to Illambazar area of Birbhum district.

"We will submit the report to party president Rajnath Singh, who is also the Home minister, and meet the Prime Minister to inform him about the lawless situation here. These things can't go on for too long. We will ensure all constitutional measures under the system are taken to restore normal situation," Punj said.
A BJP team led by Punj today visited Illambazar where BJP worker Rahim Sheikh was killed by alleged TMC goons on June 7. BJP MP Kirti Azad and party's national minority morcha chief Abdul Rashid Ansari were also in the team.
Shocked over the violence perpetrated on women and children, Azad said no one is safe in West Bengal.

On whether the Centre should intervene to restore law and order in the state, Azad said, "Law and order is a state subject. We believe in federal structure and we don't want to intervene in that. But if law and order breaks down then it has to be seen what can be done."

The BJP team members met the family members of the deceased and also spoke to several party workers who were attacked in the last few days.
This is the second visit of a BJP central delegation to assess the situation in the state.
A BJP central team led by party vice-presidents S S Ahluwalia and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi had about a fortnight ago visited Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district where party workers were injured in an attack allegedly by TMC supporters.

The first team in its report had said the violence could be state-sponsored and the border area with Bangladesh is the new home for Islamic fundamentalist groups that are being "patronised" by TMC government for vote-bank politics.