TMC behind violence in Kolkata, not BJP, says Shah

BJP President Amit Shah on Wednesday hit back at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accusing Trinamool activists of vandalising the bust of social reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar during the attack on his roadshow in Kolkata on Tuesday night.

Addressing a press conference here, Shah said that the Trinamool’s days were numbered in West Bengal and people were all set to vote her out from the state.

“Trinamool workers damaged the bust of Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar to gain sympathy. This is there conspiracy. But people can see through it. The Trinamool’s days in Bengal are over. People are going to end her rule on May 23,” Shah said.

The BJP President also accused the Election Commission of remaining a “mute spectator” to the violence and arson unleashed by the Trinamool-led West Bengal government.

The Trinamool is trying to portray the incident of vandalisation as an attack on Bengali pride and accusing the BJP of hurting local sentiments.

“It was only because of the CRPF that I escaped unhurt,” Shah told reporters here adding that Trinamool can go to any extent to target political rivals.

Shah said he has been involved in electioneering across the country, but has witnessed violence only in West Bengal. “This is because of Trinamool. They now realise that the ground is slipping beneath their feet,” he said.

The Trinamool had alleged that Shah had brought “outsiders” for his roadshow in Kolkata who were responsible for the violence in the city on Tuesday night.

“I just got the news that Didi has filed FIR against me. Does she not know that BJP is not afraid of FIRs,” Shah said.

Flashing photographs of violence during the roadshow, Shah said that BJP workers were outside the gate of the Vidyasagar College where the bust of the social rerformer was vandalised.

“The gates of the college were closed. They are intact. We were outside. The Trinamool workers were inside. The statue of Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar was inside a room which was under lock and key. Who runs the administration? Who opened the room? Trinamool workers were inside,” Shah said.