Bengal Governor Says Mamata Banerjee 'Emotionally Blackmailing' People

New Delhi: West Bengal's Chief Minister and Governor were asked today to end a very public quarrel over communal tension in the state's North 24 Parganas district.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who sought a report from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on the violence caused by a Facebook post, reportedly counselled both her and Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi resolve their differences amicably, according to the Press Trust of India.

However, his appeal was ignored. 

Ms Banerjee's party, the Trinamool Congress, accused the Governor of "crossing the constitutional line" and said his residence or Raj Bhavan cannot be "the party office of the BJP." The attack was made by senior Trinamool leader Partha Chatterjee.

Then, the Governor retorted that the Chief Minister's allegations about him insulting her governance are an attempt to "emotionally blackmail the people of Bengal."

On Friday, a Hindu teen posted an offensive post abut Prophet Mohammed on Facebook. He was arrested, but large crowds blocked roads and train tracks over the weekend. Yesterday, violence erupted with shops being targeted and Hindu-Muslim clashes were reported.

The BJP says more than 2,000 Muslims attacked Hindu families in the North 24 Parganas district and its offices at several places were set on fire.

The centre sent 400 paramilitary soldiers yesterday in and around the epicenter of the tension, Basirhat, to assist the state police in restoring calm.

The Governor phoned the Chief Minister yesterday for an update on the tension; she told reporters he had "insulted" her and acted like "a BJP block president" which led her to consider resigning.

The Governor then released a press statement refuting her allegations and said their conversation was "confidential in nature and none is expected to disclose it."