Kolkata: Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary marred by BJP-TMC slugfest

Clashes between TMC and BJP supporters led to a day-long drama on the streets of north Kolkata on Friday. Interestingly both the groups had gathered to celebrate the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.

BJP workers had gathered at a guest house in north Kolkata to continue with the bike rally ‘Sankalp Pratirodh Abhiyan’ organised by members of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), which had begun at Contai in East Midnapore district and was supposed to conclude at Cooch Behar on January 18.

BJP workers allege that TMC supporters launched an unprovoked attack on them. State BJP president Dilip Ghosh said that their workers were beaten up and locked up at the guesthouse. “Police were called but they did nothing. Our boys had to rescue the others,” he said. He also said that later when the bike rally was flagged off from the BJP state headquarters off CR Avenue, it was stopped at Girish Park area and an irate mob attacked them with sticks and stones and also attacked the BJP headquarters. “Many of our supporters have been injured and had to be hospitalised,” he said.

Heavy police was deployed to bring the situation under control. Vehicle of the special court observer Ravi …read more