A day after clashes broke out at BJP chief Amit Shah’s roadshow in Kolkata, both the BJP and the TMC on Wednesday accused each other for the violence and arson in Kolkata. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool and the BJP also accused each other of smashing the statue an iconic statue of 19th century reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar.
Shah said Trinamool Congress workers vandalised an iconic statue of 19th century reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar and pinned it on the BJP to dirty the party’s image.
The BJP president also said, “Mamata didi, you are fighting on only 42 seats in one state. The BJP is fighting in every state. If only Bengal is facing violence, then it is because of the Trinamool.”
While senior TMC leader Derek O’Brien tweeted: “I do not have words to condemn the incident. I am myself ashamed… that, as people of Bengal, we cannot respect Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar because of these BJP goons. These leaders will be leaders of the nation ? Those who cannot respect icons ?”
. @MamataOfficial “I do not have words to condemn the incident. I am myself ashamed… that, as people of Bengal, we cannot respect Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar because of these BJP goons. These leaders will be leaders of the nation ? Those who cannot respect icons ?” pic.twitter.com/CHYOTaHJD5
— Derek O’Brien | ডেরেক ও’ব্রায়েন (@derekobrienmp) May 15, 2019
Several TMC leaders, including the TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, have put Vidyasagar’s picture on their Twitter display picture.
The TMC leader also tweeted a picture of the desecrated bust of Vidyasagar.
Here’s a picture of the desecrated bust of #Vidyasagar … More proof of vandalism by #BJP goons at Amit Shah’s road show. #Kolkata pic.twitter.com/vQDlKj6vfj
— Derek O’Brien | ডেরেক ও’ব্রায়েন (@derekobrienmp) May 15, 2019
ALSO READ: ‘Wouldn’t have escaped unhurt without CRPF’: Amit Shah on Kolkata clashes
Whereas, the BJP has taken the fight to Delhi, complaining to the Election Commission. The saffron party also held a protest in the national capital against violence in Shah’s roadshow. Union Ministers Harsh Vardhan, Jitendra Singh and Vijay Goel were also present.
#Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (@BJP4India) holds protest against violence in BJP President Amit Shah’s roadshow in Kolkata, West Bengal yesterday. Union Ministers Harsh Vardhan, Jitendra Singh and Vijay Goel also present pic.twitter.com/zszZ3a2ypn
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) May 15, 2019
On the other hand, CPI (Marxist) holds protest against the vadalising the statue of Vidyasagar in violence during Shah’s roadshow. CPI (M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said, “An investigation should be done to find out how could this happen in Kolkata.”
Kolkata: CPI (Marxist) holds protest against statue pf #Vidyasagar vandalised in violence during BJP President @AmitShah‘s roadshow yesterday. CPI (M) General Secretary @SitaramYechury says,”an investigation should be done to find out how could this happen in Kolkata”. pic.twitter.com/iuERVlpvPr
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) May 15, 2019
Earlier in the day, Shah addressing the media in New Delhi said, “I wouldn’t have got away unhurt without the CRPF’s protection.”
BJP President @AmitShah on violence at his roadshow in Kolkata yesterday: Had @crpfindia not been there, it would have been really difficult for me to escape, BJP workers were beaten up, TMC can go to any extent, it’s with luck that I made it out. #WestBengal pic.twitter.com/i36J97PMzO
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) May 15, 2019
The clashes erupted on Tuesday after BJP supporters allegedly reacted to posters of ‘Amit Shah Go Away’ held by activists outside the Calcutta University and the Vidyasagar University.