Installation of New Governments: Welfare Schemes Announced in Tamil Nadu, Post-Poll Violence Still the Key Issue in Bengal

Manas Dasgupta

NEW DELHI, May 7: As the new government led by M K Stalin took charge in Tamil Nadu announcing a series of welfare measures including footing the entire bills of the Covid patients in the private hospitals, in West Bengal the BJP, and now the RSS, kept raising the issue of alleged post-poll violence even before the dust has settled on the new government.

Despite country-wide criticism of the BJP workers for staging dharna in different cities and towns breaking all Covid protocols on Thursday to protest against the incidents of violence in West Bengal, many of which have turned down to be fake claims floated by the BJP IT cell, the RSS on Friday criticised the West Bengal’s Trinamool Congress (TMC) government for “failing to curb post-poll violence against its opponents” and said it should establish rule of law, act against the culprits and instill a feeling of safety and confidence among the affected people.

The RSS criticism of Mamata Banerjee was almost on the dotted lines of the then opposition had attacked the Narendra Modi government soon after the present prime minister had taken over the reins of Gujarat from his predecessor Keshubhai Patel in 2001 and the entire state plunged into a communal holocaust. This had forced the then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to advise Modi to “perform his Raj Dharma” and treat all the citizens irrespective of their community and castes, equally.

Though no fresh incident of violence was reported from any part of West Bengal on Friday, a day after the Banerjee government took charge, the RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale in a statement said, “We urge upon the Union government to take necessary and all possible steps to establish peace in West Bengal and ensure that state government acts…”

The BJP has blamed TMC, which swept back to power on Sunday, for violence against its workers and supporters. It has said many of its workers have been grievously injured in the violence. On Thursday, Union minister V Muraleedharn’s vehicle was allegedly attacked in West Bengal.

Referring to the violence, Hosable said, “The first and foremost responsibility of the ruling administration, whichever party may be in power, is to establish peace and safety in society by maintaining law and order, to instill fear of law in the minds of the antisocial elements, and to punish those involved in violent activities. The electoral victory belongs to political parties, but the elected government is accountable to the entire society.”

Hosable lashed out at the Mamata Banerjee government. “That the role of state administrative machinery was completely passive, and they remained mute spectators was the most heinous part of this unabated and inhuman violence. Neither the rioters seemed to be afraid of anything nor is there any initiative by the state police and administration to control the violence.”

He also referred to alleged attacks on women and children. “…It is but natural that the opposing sides…sometimes cross the limits in making allegations and counter-allegations. However, we should always remember that all contesting parties belong to our country only and all those participating in the elections – the candidates, their supporters, the voters – are citizens of the nation.”

There was no immediate response from the TMC, which has earlier rubbished the allegations as fake and said its workers have also been killed. Banerjee has also appealed for peace.

Meanwhile, in Chennai the DMK government returned to power in Tamil Nadu after a decade and the new chief minister announced a series of welfare measures for the people soon after taking oath of office and secrecy on Friday.

Stalin said his government would bear the cost of Covid-19 treatment even for patients who are admitted in private hospitals. This will be covered under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme.

This was among Stalin’s first of five orders after assuming office this morning. He also ordered Covid-19 financial aid of Rs 4,000 to 2,07,67,000 rice cardholders across the state. “To implement the scheme, the Chief Minister has signed the order to provide the first instalment of Rs 2,000 in May itself at Rs 4,153.69 crore,” a government order said.

The chief minister also announced the price of Aavin Milk will be reduced by Rs 3/litre. This will come into effect from May 16.

All women, including those who are working and girls pursuing higher secondary education, can now travel for free in government buses (those with normal fare) from May 8. The state government will provide a subsidy of Rs 1,200 crore to the Transport Corporations to compensate for the losses that could occur due to the above scheme.

The newly-elected CM passed orders for implementing the “Ungal Thoguthiyil Stalin” scheme. An IAS officer is set to be appointed and an exclusive department will be formed for grievance redressal. In his poll promise, Stalin had said the first 100 days of his government would be dedicated to resolving issues faced by the public.