The ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday accused each other of vandalising the Vidyasagar College premises during BJP president Amit Shah’s roadshow in Kolkata on Tuesday.
A bust of social reformer and educationist Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was smashed and clashes ensued between BJP workers and students from union affiliated to the Trinamool Congress. They were showing black flags to Shah that said, “Go back, Amit Shah”.
Shah held a press conference in New Delhi on Wednesday morning and said that had it not been for the presence of Central paramilitary forces, he would not be able to get out of the place unhurt. He accused the Trinamool Congress workers of organising the vandalism, adding that the college gates being closed, it was impossible for BJP workers to enter the premises.
“The gates were closed and our roadshow was outside. The workers were outside. How did the bust, inside a room get destroyed? How can the statue be broken by our men?” Shah asked.
However, the Trinamool Congress leadership showed video footage showing some saffron-clad people entering the premises. Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien in a press conference said: “Amit Shah is a liar. We are showing videos to the media to show what happened yesterday.”
There was huge chaos and clashes in Kolkata’s College Street area following Shah’s mega rally and road show on Tuesday. As some students of Vidyasagar College stood with black flags and shouted slogans, BJP supporters from the rally are said to have pelted stones at them along with lathis, rods and police guard rails. Some of them then allegedly entered the college premises and started vandalising inside. Motorcycles were set on fire and a bust Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was vandalised.
Police tried to contain the violence but there were clashes still which left some injured. Some people have been arrested according to the police. Later, chief minister Mamata Banerjee went to the college where she spoke with the students and held a press conference, attacking the BJP “goons” for the hurt and anger they had caused to Bengal and the Bengalis through the act of vandalism.
Trinamool Congress, BJP and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) held protest marches and sit-ins at various places on the issue. No doubt, a lot more will take place over in the run-up to the final phase of election in Kolkata and outskirts on May 19, Sunday.
