lok-sabha-elections

Updated: May 15, 2019 10:24 IST

Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress on Tuesday sought a meeting with the Election Commission a day after its party workers fought pitched battles on the streets of Kolkata with BJP supporters during a massive road show of party chief Amit Shah, who escaped unhurt but was forced to cut short the jamboree and had to be escorted to safety by the police.

Parts of the city plunged into a welter of violence as his convoy was attacked with stones by alleged TMC supporters from inside the hostel of Vidyasagar College, triggering a clash between supporters of the two parties, officials said.

Also read | ‘Murder of democracy’: BJP slams Mamata Banerjee over violence at Amit Shah roadshow

“The way people had gathered for the BJP roadshow in Kolkata, almost every person in the city was present. There was no place to even stand along the eight-kilometre stretch. Frustrated goons of Mamata didi’s TMC attacked the roadshow. There was a medical college 200 meters away from my rath, the attack began from there. Inflammatory substances were thrown and there were attempts to create a stampede,” Amit Shah told news agency ANI.

“I want to thank the BJP workers that despite all this the roadshow continued for 1.5 hours and ended at the scheduled place and time. I condemn the violence Mamata’s party is doing here. I appeal to the people of West Bengal to give answer to violence with peace,” he said

The Trinamool Congress alleged that BJP president Amit Shah brought “outsiders” for his road show in Kolkata who were responsible for the violence in the city on Tuesday.

TMC spokesperson Derek O’ Brien wrote on Twitter, “Desperate BJP goons from outside Bengal smash statue of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar inside the college... How little you know about Bengal, its rich history, its culture. Bengal will never forgive for what you did today. (sic).”

Trinamool Congress’ Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray tweeted, “Hired goons of BJP vandalised Calcutta University and Vidyasagar College, bikes set ablaze, bust of Vidyasagar demolished today during roadshow of BJP President in Kolkata today. What a tribute to Vidyasagar on the eve of his bicentenary (sic).”

(with PTI inputs)