NB Viewpoint | Ravi Shankar Prasad points out at opposition's double standards on Panchayat Poll Violence in West Bengal

"Our candidate has run away from the village. Her house has been demolished and Mamata ji says she was born in poverty. I ask why Rahul Gandhi, Sitaram Yechury, Nitish Kumar and other opposition parties are silent? These are opportunistic people” - Ravi Shankar Prasad, BJP MP

“Today I would like to remind Mamata Ji about her evolution in Bengal politics. You fought against the ugly and cruel left regime. But what made your politics uglier than that of the left? Why have your politics become full of atrocities? What have you done? The court has to intervene in the election every time. Even the Supreme Court has expressed its anxiety over the Bengal violence” - Ravi Shankar Prasad, BJP MP

“You (Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee) won because the court was strict. We will visit the affected areas. I belong to Bihar, where incidents like these are a matter of the past. Elections are conducted in a peaceful manner in my state. I heard that murder was reported on the counting day as well. You have shamed democracy” - Ravi Shankar Prasad, BJP MP

Kolkata, Jul 13: With the violence taking centre stage in the West Bengal Panchayat polls, opposition is being blamed for orchestrating the clashes that claimed several lives.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday (Jul 12) slammed the opposition leaders in West Bengal for being “silent” on violence that took place during recently conducted panchayat polls which claimed at least 10 lives. While talking to media, Ravi Shankar Prasad who is chairing the BJP’s fact-finding committee in the wake of the widespread violence during the Panchayat elections in the state.

Also read: NB Viewpoint | Assam CM claims around 150 people from West Bengal sought refuge fearing violence in panchayat elections

On Tuesday, the BJP constituted a four-member fact-finding committee in the wake of the widespread violence during the Panchayat elections in the state. Later, addressing a press conference, Prasad alleged that CM Mamata has "shamed" democracy.

Also read: West Bengal govt used mid-day meal funds for polls; Centre seeks report from state

Hitting back at the BJP leader, Mamata Banerjee said that the fact-finding team led by BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad is BJP's provocation committee. She further questioned where were these teams and committees when Manipur was “burning” and thousands of people were murdered in Uttar Pradesh in the name of the “encounter”.