Bengal is lawless; Mamata Banerjee must answer: Vinod Kumar Sonkar

Vinod Kumar Sonkar, the newly appointed chairperson of the Parliament's Ethics Committee, has alleged that Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has failed the state as it has become lawless. He said innocent people were being killed and the state administration was doing nothing.

New Delhi: Holding West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee responsible for "law and order failure" in the state, newly appointed chairman of the Parliament's Ethics Committee Vinod Kumar Sonkar on Friday said it was a cause of concern as innocent people were being killed.

Speaking to ETV Bharat here, the BJP MP from Kaushambi said: "The Chief Minister should answer it".

On Tuesday, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) worker, his pregnant wife, and their eight-year-old son were found murdered in West Bengal's Murshidabad district. The bodies of Bondhu Gopal Pal, a 35-year-old primary school teacher, his wife, and son were found lying in a pool of blood inside their residence.

"If an incident such as this had happened in BJP-ruled states, there would have been huge hue and cry," he said, adding that it's "unfortunate" that nobody is reacting to it the way they would have reacted to something of this nature in BJP-ruled states.

Sonkar, who took over the charge of the Parliament's Ethics Committee after BJP senior leader LK Advani, also criticized people attacking Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar.

"This weakens democracy of the country. He is the constitutional head and should be respected," the BJP MP said on being asked to respond on a West Bengal minister questioning him on the issue.

Touching upon the issue of the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case, Sonkar said it was proved beyond that the mosque was built thereafter destroying a Hindu temple. He expressed hope that Ram temple would be built thereafter the court's decision.

He, however, did not answer the question directly on a BJP leader saying that even if the court's decision goes against Hindus, the Muslims would not be able to build the temple at the disputed land.

On being asked how was he feeling taking over such a pretentious position that was earlier held by Advani, he said it was a matter of pride and he was thankful to the party leadership for giving him the opportunity to serve as head of the Parliament's Ethics Committee.