Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday demanded a thorough and impartial investigation into the deadly Anandapur warehouse fire, questioning who the “heavyweights” are whose money has allegedly been invested in the momo factory and accusing the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) government of trying to protect them.
Speaking at the BJP Karyakarta Sammelan in North 24 Parganas, Shah asked a series of pointed questions. “Whose money is invested in the momo factory’s owner? Who are the owners close to? With whom did they go on foreign tours in planes? Why have they not been arrested yet?” he said.
‘This was not an accident’
Coming down heavily on the state government led by Mamata Banerjee, Shah alleged that the fire was not accidental. “The fire at the Anandapur warehouse was not an accident. Twenty-five people have lost their lives and 27 are missing. Why did this incident happen?” he asked.
The Home Minister also questioned the state government’s response to the tragedy, suggesting it was influenced by vote bank politics. Referring indirectly to people from the Muslim minority community, Shah said Banerjee should be “ashamed” and asked whether the reaction would have been the same if the victims were termed “infiltrators”.
Call for arrests and impartial inquiry
Demanding immediate action, Shah said those involved should be arrested at the outset. “I am demanding from the West Bengal Chief Minister an impartial investigation into this incident and, at the very beginning, lock up those who are involved,” he said.
Political pitch ahead of elections
Using the incident to drum up support for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shah appealed to voters to bring a change in the next Assembly elections. He urged people to “uproot” the TMC government and elect a dispensation that “believes in nationalism”.
What happened in Anandapur
A massive fire broke out at a momo factory in Kolkata’s Anandapur area last week, leaving at least 25 people dead and 27 reported missing. West Bengal Police said 21 samples have been sent for profiling and missing reports registered. Three people have been arrested so far in connection with the case, officials said.