Central Kolkata’s education hub of college street resembled a battleground on Tuesday as clashes broke out between the BJP and TMC supporters after a massive roadshow by BJP’s party chief Amit Shah, who escaped unhurt but was forced to cut short the jamboree and had to be escorted to safety by police.
The BJP blamed TMC “hooligans” for the violence, with Shah accusing West Bengal chief minister Mamta Banerjee after the roadshow. There is violence in Bengal because the TMC is in power there, he said.
Hitting back, the Trinamool Congress chief said that BJP pre-planned the violence and brought “goons” from outside the state to attack the Calcutta University campus.
The violence apparently began after suspected TMC supporters hurled stones at the BJP convoy from inside the hostel of Vidyasagar College. Furious BJP workers retaliated and during the clash, a bust of the polymath and philosopher inside the campus was damaged.
Following the violence, the election commission will on Wednesday hold a review meeting with observers and Kolkata chief electoral officers for the last phase of Lok Sabha polls on May 19.
Sharad Narang
Sharad is one among the oldest contributors of BO Herald with a particularly unique perspective with regards to Politics events. He aims to empower the readers with delivery of apt factual analysis of Politics news pieces from India.
