CM refers to ' ghar wapasi'

A policeman looks at a CCTV camera outside the administrative building of Convent 

of Jesus and Mary High School 0n Saturday. Picture by Abhi Ghosh

TT, Calcutta, March 14: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee condemned the attack on the nuns and swiftly ordered a CID probe but injected a sensitive element by making a reference to "ghar wapasi" - the reconversion programme associated with some Sangh Parivar outfits.

"The West Bengal chief minister also said that religious politics was being practised in the name of ' ghar wapasi'. She added that religious fanaticism is on the rise," said a statement issued by the Bengal government this evening on the Ranaghat atrocity.

It was not clear whether the state government statement was made on the basis of specific evidence liked to the Ranaghat attack or it was making a general observation. Till late tonight, police had confined themselves to saying they were treating it as a planned robbery.

The government statement appeared to be a response to criticism from the Opposition that the government had failed to protect a minority establishment.

State Congress president Adhir Chowdhury had said earlier in the day: "Everyday we are being ashamed with such incidents of rape in Bengal. Industry has disappeared from Bengal. There is only rape here. Trinamul winning elections is not contributing to the welfare of the state with such ghastly incidents."

Surjya Kanta Mishra, the new state secretary of the CPM and leader of the Opposition, and a BJP delegation of Locket Chatterjee and Pratap Banerjee are scheduled to visit the school in Ranaghat tomorrow.

The government statement added that the "chief minister has ordered a CID probe into the incident and strongly condemned the horrific incident".

It added: "The chief minister has said this is a crime on the entire humanity. She spoke to Archbishop Thomas D'Souza twice, assuring him of a speedy probe."

The statement said Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien had spoken to the Archbishop many times.

Earlier, the chief minister had said in a separate statement: "We strongly condemn the incident that took place at the Ranaghat convent. We have ordered a CID probe.... The government will take strict steps against the culprits. The CID will be examining all aspects to this horrific crime. Swift, strongest action to be taken."