Mamata Banerjee slams BJP's fact-finding team for panchayat polls violence: 'When Manipur was burning…'

livemint.com:

Mamata Banerjee said. Notably, more than 30 people have lost their lives in the violence since the announcement of panchayat polls. West Bengal Chief Minister said that she is saddened by the “sporadic" incidents of violence during the panchayat polls in the state.

“I am saddened at the loss of lives in sporadic incidents of violence during panchayat elections... The polls were held in 71,000 booths, but incidents of violence took place in not more than 60 booths," she said. “I am giving police free hand to the police to act against those behind the violence," she told reporters at the state secretariat ‘Nabanna’.

Opposition BJP continued their attack against the state government over the violence in Panchayat polls. Ravi Shankar Prasad said the state unit's demand for implementing Article 355 is "justifiable". "We had immense respect for Mamataji when she defeated the 34-year-old Left regime in the state.

Today, I want to gently remind Mamataji about her evolution in Bengal and national politics. She was a fighter. But unfortunately, her government has crossed even the records of the Left regarding misrule, anarchy, and lawlessness in the state," he said.