TMC anger knocks at BJP door

Kolkata: More than a dozen BJP workers were injured when activists of the student wing of the ruling Trinamul Congress on Tuesday allegedly attacked the state party headquarters with stones to protest the arrest of MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay in connection with the Rose Valley chit fund scam, police said.

Some police officers including the officer-in-charge of Jorasanko police station Amit Rakshit also received injuries. Later, CRPF was deployed outside the BJP office to bring the situation under control.

The Central Avenue was closed for traffic movement in the evening and police had to lathicharge agitating TMCP workers.

BJP national secretary Rahul Sinha, who was in the party office at Murlidhar Sen Lane during the attack, said, “Five to six cars belonging to the party were damaged and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s effigies were burnt. More than 10-15 workers of our party were injured. Is this democracy? A person who has looted public money has been arrested. Why are they attacking our party office and workers?” he said.

Incidentally, the BJP state office is located in Central Kolkata which falls under Sudip Bandyopadhyay’s Lok Sabha constituency.

The agitation began at 5 pm when TMCP leaders carrying TMC flags shouted slogans against the Prime Minister. To counter them, some BJP workers came out of the party office holding sticks. Outnumbered by them, TMCP workers retreated from the area only to return with more TMC workers who pelted stones at the party office. Soon a clash ensued between the workers and several BJP leaders were injured. The police rushed to the spot to control the situation. However, some policemen also came under the TMCP attack. Later, a contingent of CRPF was deployed ensure the safety of BJP workers. The police later used batons to disperse the TMC workers. The situation was brought under control after 8 pm and all the injured BJP workers were taken to hospital. Condemning the attack, BJP national secretary Siddharth Nath Singh said, “So many of our activists were injured today and the police was just a mute spectator. This only shows that the police is acting as cadres of the ruling TMC.” Some BJP leaders also met governor K.N. Tripathi and complained about the incident.

“We have cordoned off the area. A few people have received injuries,” a police official said.