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Kolkata/New Delhi/Bhubaneshwar, January 4
Violence marked the Trinamool Congress’s protests against Member of Parliament Sudip Bandyopadhyay’s arrest, as suspected activists went on a rampage vandalising and even hurling bombs at offices and leaders of the BJP in several places in West Bengal on Wednesday.
Party leaders, MPs and workers held protests outside the Central Bureau of Investigation’s offices at Kolkata and Bhubaneshwar as the leader was produced in court.
Some people suspected to be TMC workers beat up two BJP leaders and set the party’s office afire in Chinsurah Mandal.
The violence prompted a BJP delegation to meet West Bengal Governor KN Tripathi for imposing President's rule in the state.
"Our party offices have been ransacked throughout the state. Bombs have been hurled at homes of various party leaders. The police is just a mute spectator," BJP national secretary Rahul Sinha said.
Some TMC Parliamentarians even unsuccessfully tried to lead a march to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence in Delhi.
"We are protesting against Bandyopadhyay's arrest, demanding Modi's resignation and inquiry into his taking money from Birla and Sahara groups. We are also demanding Babul Supriyo (Union Minister) for his involvement in the Rose Valley scam case," TMC Parliamentarian Sugata Roy told reporters at Tughlak Road police station where they were under detention.
"We were marching peacefully towards the Prime Minister's residence, but the police detained us mid-way and manhandled few of our MPs."
The MPs were released later in the evening.
Bandyopadhyay — TMC's face in New Delhi — is the second person to be arrested for the Rose Valley Chit fund scam, ponzi scam involving an estimated Rs 15,000 crore.
On Tuesday, three suspected Trinamool Congress workers hurled bombs at the house of state BJP general secretary, Krishna Bhattacharya, in Hooghly district, the leader claimed. They later forcibly entered the house, vandalised the place and assaulted her, she claimed.
The attack came hours after TMC workers went on a rampage at state BJP headquarters in downtown Kolkata on Tuesday.
BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya threatened the TMC to "mend its ways or face consequences".
"We may not be as strong as TMC in Bengal. But in the entire country we are the strongest political force. I wonder if BJP workers in Delhi decide that TMC MPs would not be allowed to enter Delhi, would they be able to enter Delhi?”
"The answer is no. If BJP workers decide to protest across the country, would Mamata Banerjee be able to roam the country freely? If TMC doesn't mend its ways, we will also not sit silently," Vijyavargiya, who is also BJP observer in-charge of West Bengal, told reporters in Kolkata.
A court in Bhubaneshwar meanwhile turned down Bandyopadhyay’s application for bail and sent him to CBI’s custody for six days. — PTI
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