Chemical-laced water used against BJP contained coronavirus, alleges BJP MP; another MP writes to Amit Shah for probe into water used

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Soumitra Khan has alleged that chemical-laced water that the West Bengal administration had sprayed on the BJP workers during the October 8 rally contained “coronavirus”. Thousands of BJP workers had participated in the “Nabanna abjijan” programme that day. Khan is the party MP from Bishnupur.

“The chemical spray that was used by the police contained coronavirus. This was an attempt to kill the BJP workers. We will distribute pamphlets among our supporters to inform them about such conspiracy,” Khan said.

BJP leader Raju Banerjee – who was seen being sprayed with the chemical spray on that day – was taken ill after the rally. Top BJP leaders were present at the march towards the state administrative headquarters, Nabanna. Since the Nabanna march, there were speculations about the state BJP chief Dilip Ghosh not keeping well. However, there is no official information on his illness. Khan claimed many BJP leaders later tested positive for COVID-19.

Meanwhile, another BJP MP Locket Chatterjee has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the use of chemicals in water. She urged Shah to initiate a probe on finding out what chemicals were used in the water canons that day.

There is no evidence though, of the possibility of artificially spreading coronavirus through water or other sprays. The state administration has said earlier that the colour was used to identify those who were part of the rally. In the COVID-19 situation, the state administration did not give permission for such a huge rally, and thus those who participated in the rally had to be identified, said officials. They said that the colour used is the same that is used to play dol and Holi.