NEW DELHI: BJP leader Agnimitra Paul on Monday directed her attack at the West Bengal government after the arrest of 22-year-old Instagram influencer Sharmishtha Panoli, alleging a lack of free speech and unequal treatment of communities in the state.The remarks came after Panoli was remanded to 14-day judicial custody for allegedly making communal comments in a video on social media.Speaking on the incident, Paul said, “Kangana Ranaut very rightly said that don’t make West Bengal another North Korea because there’s no freedom of speech there. There is no constitutional freedom of speech in West Bengal, and there are two different sets of rules for Hindus and Muslims.” She also thanked the Bar Council and Kangana Ranaut for supporting Panoli. “I thank the Bar Council and Kangana Ranaut (for standing by Panoli). Every Indian, Hindu and nationalist Muslim must stand against this injustice,” she added.Paul accused the state government of selective enforcement and bias, saying, “We have seen so many posts from West Bengal lately abusing India, PM Modi, our Goddess Maa Kamakhya, after Operation Sindoor, but no action was taken… It is a clear message from the Mamata government that if you are a Hindu or a Muslim who is abusing or saying something against Muslims, you will not be spared, but if it is the opposite, no action will be taken.”She urged the Hindu community in West Bengal to rise, saying, “Hindus of West Bengal also need to rise; they are sleeping under the cloud of secularism. We need to have a neutral government… The police of the state today only see a religion.”BJP leader also cited specific instances of alleged bias, claiming, “No action was taken against Anubrata Mondal, a TMC leader who abused a police officer… The Mamata government only works for the Muslims, not for Hindus.”On Panoli’s arrest, Paul said, “Sharmishtha Panoli repeatedly apologised and also deleted the post and inspite of it, Mamata Banerjee’s police, being proactive, went to Gurugram and arrested her.” She further accused the Mamata-led state government of ignoring similar actions by others: “Mahua Moitra repeatedly abuses our Goddess… but no action taken… Court stated that riots of Murshidabad was done by TMC leaders… No action was taken… Mamata Banerjee doesn’t consider Hindus of any importance.”*According to police sources cited by PTI news agency, Panoli’s video criticised Bollywood actors for their silence on Operation Sindoor. The post went viral, sparking backlash, and was subsequently deleted by Panoli, who also issued an apology. Despite this, she was arrested in Gurugram on Friday night after reportedly evading multiple police summons.Panoli, a law student originally from Kolkata’s Anandapur area and currently studying at a university in Pune, has been charged under sections related to promoting enmity between groups and creating religious disharmony.
