BJP claims attack on workers at rally

Kolkata: The BJP today accused Trinamul Congress workers of attacking its rally here to celebrate the Centre’s demonetisation policy, a charge denied by local TMC leaders.

The BJP’s “Anti-Black Money Day” march was attacked twice in the city, party leaders said.

One of the attacks took place at Rashbehari Avenue, near the Kalighat Metro station, general secretary of the BJP’s state unit, Deboshree Chowdhury, said.

Ms Chowdhury, who was among those leading the rally, claimed the marchers were attacked by TMC workers. “TMC workers attacked our party workers. Even women were not spared. Our dais was completely destroyed,” she said.

City TMC leaders, however, denied any involvement in the attack and levelled counter-allegations against the BJP, saying that it had tried to bring down the podium of the Trinamul Congress’s anti-demonetisation programme in the same area, near the Kalighat metro station.

In another part of the city, stones were thrown at the BJP marchers when they were on their way to the party headquarters near Bara Bazar from the Chandni Chowk Metro station, another general secretary, Sayantan Basu, claimed.

When the workers protested, they were beaten up, he said. Following this, the BJP workers gheraoed the Bow Bazar police station, demanding the immediate arrest of the culprits, he added.

Ms Chowdhury said the marchers also went to the Tollygunge police station to seek action against the attackers.

“But the police are not willing to do anything,” she alleged. A senior official of the Lal Bazar police station said it had received complaints from both the areas and was looking into the matter.