New Delhi: Union Minister Babul Supriyo on Thursday stoked controversy while he was on his way to a relief camp in Kalyanpur, in Asansol (one of the areas hit by communal violence). Babul, the Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises and MP from Asansol reportedly lost his cool and threatened to ‘skin’ some people who confronted and shouted slogans against him.
The video which was aired on some news channels showed Babul trying to calm people down. However, when they refuse to stay silent the minister loses his cool and said,“Aami ki apnader ke bolbo lorai koro? Ami chole jabo, apnader opor goli cholbe (Will I ask you to fight? I will leave and you will come under fire).”
But when a person asked him to ‘go back’ Babul was heard saying, “Chamra guthiye debo ekdom… (Will skin them alive).”
Following the incident, Babul was booked for violating prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC and under Sections 146, 147, 148 (rioting) and 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), a non-bailable offence.
On being asked about the incident, the Union Minister said that two-three miscreants of Trinamool Congress were trying to create panic. “They were shouting slogans against me while I was trying to meet the victims. I stopped my vehicle when I saw two elderly women weeping. The miscreants pushed away the women. If I said ‘c30hamra guthiye debo (will skin alive)’, it was out of pure anger targeted at those miscreants,” Babul defended himself while talking to Media.
4/5:Check this vdo too👇Police file cases against me cuz I visit the Victims in my OWN constituency where victims belong 2 ONLY one community?Is that a crime in Bengal?Everytym the same story!!Police wil push&pull me&stop me frm talking 2 people cuz they r spelling the truth out? pic.twitter.com/CjL0osyjq6
— Babul Supriyo (@SuPriyoBabul) March 30, 2018
Earlier on Monday, one person was killed and two police officers were injured in the clashes that broke out over a Ram Navami procession in Raniganj. Next day, the violence spread to neighbouring Asansol wherein a 16-year-old youth named Sibtulla Rashidi lost his life.
Senior IPS officers Jawed Shamim, Siddhinath Gupta and Vineet Goyal have been deputed on special duty to bring the situation under control.
