Amit Shah’s Kolkata Roadshow Takes An Aggressive Turn

On a Tuesday evening in Kolkata, clashes broke out during BJP president Amit Shah’s roadshow. It was reported that clash occurred between the TMC (Trinamool Congress) and BJP supporters. The eyewitnesses claim that the clash triggered when participants in Mr.Shah’s roadshow rushed into the hostel of Vidyasagar College and indulged in violence after spotting a few students, presumably belonging to the Trinamool Congress’ students’ holding up posters that read “Go back, Amit Shah”.

In no time, the fire of violence spread to a much aggressive level. Stones were pelted, motorcycles parked at the entrance of college were vandalized and set on fire, shards of broken glasses were all around the lobby, bust of the well-known philosopher and an important figure during the Bengal Renaissance, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, which was placed in the lobby itself, was shattered to bits.

Post the clash, both the party chiefs initiated their blame game. While Shah accused Mamta Banerjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal for invoking hate and provoking violence, Mamta hit back saying that it was Amit Shah who initiated the violence by bringing ‘goons’ from outside the state to attack the college campus.  

Amit Shah also picked up the police on this incident and called it the ‘mute spectator’.  He said that the police force deviated from the plan and took the route where there was a traffic jam. He added that he was kept from reaching Swami Vivekananda’s house to pay tributes. Amit Shah has condemned this incident.

Following this incident, BJP leaders including ministers like Nirmala Sitharam and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi led a delegation to the Election Commission in New Delhi demanding the EC to ban Mamta Banerjee from campaigning for the elections.   

With this event, tension has been created in the state with BJP leaders expressing concerns over the law and order existing in Kolkata.