New Delhi, May 15: BJP President Amit Shah on Wednesday accused Trinamool Congress “goons” of vandalising the statue of social reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar during his roadshow in Kolkata the previous day.
Addressing the media at the Bharatiya Janata Party headquarters, Shah said: “Six phases of the elections have been completed throughout the country but incidents of violence are happening only in West Bengal.
“(Chief Minister) Mamata Banerjee is alleging that the BJP is spreading violence in the state. She is contesting on only 42 seats but the BJP is contesting across the country. No incident of violence has been reported from anywhere except Bengal. This means Trinamool is responsible for the violence.”
He said three attacks took place during his roadshow but the state police remained mere spectators.
He also accused Banerjee of conspiring to vandalise Vidyasagar’s statue in an effort to gain sympathy.
“The gate of the college was closed and the BJP workers were outside. Trinamool goons were pelting stones from inside. This was a conspiracy and drama by Mamata Banerjee to gain sympathy. Vandalising a statue for vote bank makes it clear that the Trinamool Congress is losing badly in this election.
“All these proves that Trinamool Congress goons vandalised the statue,” he said.
Shah also claimed that he survived on Tuesday because of the CRPF’s presence in Kolkata.
“Had CRPF 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.,” he said showing photographs.
BJP President Amit Shah on violence at his roadshow in Kolkata yesterday: Had CRPF 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/GksBpZA2iY
— ANI (@ANI) May 15, 2019
READ: TMC to meet Election Commission over violence at Amit Shah’s roadshow in Kolkata
Both TMC and BJP ever since the start of national polls is in loggerheads. BJP in a run-up to the polls is leaving no stone unturned to make a big dent in Mamata’s Bastion and eyeing a lion share from 42 Lok Sabha Seats.
Amit Shah’s press conference comes a day after a clash between TMC and BJP workers during the roadshow of Amit Shah in Kolkata. Reportedly, massive unrest and violent conflicts broke out between TMC and BJP workers at College Street on Tuesday evening during the roadshow of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Amit Shah in Kolkata.
Just like Amit Shah’s road initial 6 phases of elections, also saw violence in the state with reports of clashes between TMC and BJP from various places.
General Elections 2019 is being held across seven phases starting April 11 to May 19. Counting of the votes will be held on May 23. Voting of the remaining 59 constituencies will be held in last and seventh phase of polling slated for May 19.
Polling in West Bengal’s 42 Lok Sabha Seat is being spread on all seven phases. 9 Lok Sabha seats of the state will go to polls in the last phase of the election slated for May 19.
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