NEW DELHI: Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu today described the communal violence in a West Bengal district as "unfortunate" and requested the state government to take effective steps to protect all the people -- "whether they are minority or majority".
Clashes broke out between members of two communities in Baduria in Basirhat sub-division of North 24-Parganas district earlier this week over an "objectionable" Facebook post.
"It is unfortunate. I hope the state government will take the situation seriously and take all effective steps to protect the people, every section of the people -- whether they are minority or majority," Naidu told reporters here.
Stressing that no one should be discriminated against, the information and broadcasting minister said, "Every community is part of India...I hope the state government will take action to protect the people."
West Bengal is governed by the Trinamool Congress led by Mamata Banerjee.
Meanwhile, separate delegations of the BJP, the Left and the Congress were today stopped from going to Baduria as the situation was still volatile, a senior district official said.
Police and paramilitary forces marched through the troubled areas to maintain law and order.