Within hours after BJP president's Amit Shah's rally at Kanthi in West Bengal's East Medinipur district on Tuesday clashes erupted between Trinamool Congress ( TMC) and BJP workers.
Several vehicles carrying BJP workers were vandalised and some were set ablaze. A TMC party office was also ransacked allegedly by BJP workers. Locals say that about three persons were injured.
Admitting that clashes took place between the two parties Transport Minister Suvendu Adhikari said " do you expect us to welcome them ( BJP) with flowers when they are attacking us with bombs and sticks. For every reaction, there is an opposite reaction."
BJP state president Dilip Ghosh said that the police remained inactive when the vandalism by TMC took place.
"TMC will face the consequences," said State BJP general secretary Sayantan Basu.
Eight TMC workers were allegedly injured in a second clash after the rally.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee about the incident.
"HM spoke to West Bengal CM, Ms Mamta Banerjee and expressed serious concern over reports of large scale violence and arson against people who attended BJP’s political rally in East Midnapore district today. He asked CM that those who indulged in violence should be brought to book," stated a tweet on the official Twitter handle of the Home Minister's office.
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