In vitriolic exchanges between the ruling Trinamul Congress and the Opposition BJP in West Bengal amid reports of clashes between workers of the two parties, the BJP on Wednesday accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of patronising anti-social elements, responsible for disrupting peace in the state.

The BJP reaction came in the wake of party leaders’ claims that goons allegedly owing allegiance to TMC attacked the BJP’s offices in West Bengal.

West Bengal has been witness to sporadic violence and arson since Monday after a reportedly objectionable social media content sparked violence in Baduria and Basirhat in North 24 Parganas district. This comes amid continuing standoff between the state government and the Gorkaland activists in Darjeeling.

Senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi charged the TMC with supporting anti-social elements responsible for creating a reign of fear among the common people in the state. He sought an immediate solution to unrest in West Bengal.

“The anti-social elements in West Bengal are running a parallel government with the support of the state government. These questionable people are brewing an atmosphere of fear with the support of the state government. It is a grievous issue. A solution to this problem should be found out for the safety and betterment of people of West Bengal,” Naqvi said here.

The Home Ministry, meanwhile, has asked for a detailed report on the situation obtaining in West Bengal in the wake of the violent clashes in the state.

On Tuesday, Mamata Banerjee accused Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi of threatening her over telephone. She alleged the phone call came immediately after a BJP delegation met the Governor over communal flare ups in North 24 Parganas district.

The BJP on Wednesday said Banerjee’s allegation against the Governor was not a healthy practice. BJP spokesman Gaurav Bhatia said the Governor would take appropriate measure to deal with the situation in the state.

“Mamata Banerjee will have to understand that West Bengal is not a dictatorship and is governed as per the Constitution of India. The Governor will take adequate measures if he finds out that the government is not abiding by the Constitution.,” Bhatia said.

The BJP has been the target of Banerjee since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to demonetise the old Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes. The TMC had also earlier registered its objection to the GST in its current form. 

“We would like to warn Mamata Banerjee that violence should not be used as a means to settle political scores. Violence ultimately doesn’t pay and by using such tactics you cannot stop the rise of BJP in West Bengal," another BJP leader S Verma said here.