Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Amid intensifying political exchanges in West Bengal, state minister and Trinamool Congress candidate from the Shyampukur constituency Shashi Panja has strongly responded to recent allegations surrounding the situation in Malda, asserting that the narrative has been deliberately distorted for political advantage.
Speaking in Kolkata, Panja addressed the controversy linked to protests in Malda and nearby districts, stating that the unrest stemmed from genuine public grievances rather than any orchestrated breakdown of law and order. “People were resenting this incident in Malda… People were protesting because more than 50 percent of the electorate in Malda and Murshidabad have been omitted or are under adjudication of their voters’ rights,” she said.
According to Panja, the protests were initially peaceful and driven by concerns over electoral inclusion. She emphasized that a significant portion of the population in districts like Malda and Murshidabad had raised objections regarding their voting status, which led to widespread dissatisfaction among citizens.
However, she accused opposition parties, particularly the Bharatiya Janata Party and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, of exploiting the situation. “The BJP and AIMIM have clearly misutilized that peaceful agitation, and this led to a law and order situation,” Panja alleged, suggesting that political interference escalated tensions on the ground.
Her remarks also took aim at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claiming that his recent statements and visits were an attempt to divert attention from the underlying issue. “He came to cover up,” she remarked, indicating that the focus had shifted away from the concerns of the affected electorate.
The statement comes in the backdrop of a broader political confrontation in West Bengal, where competing narratives are shaping public discourse ahead of the Assembly elections. While opposition leaders have raised questions about governance and law and order, the ruling Trinamool Congress has countered by highlighting administrative challenges and accusing rivals of politicizing sensitive issues.
Shashi Panja’s comments bring attention to the complexities behind the Malda unrest, framing it as a matter of electoral rights and public grievance rather than mere disorder, while also underscoring the sharp political divide that continues to define the state’s elections landscape.
