Kolkata, Apr 27 (PTI) TMC MP from Arambagh Mitali Bag on Monday alleged that BJP’s ‘goons’ vandalised her car at Goghat in West Bengal’s Hooghly district when she was going to attend a rally of party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on the last day of campaigning.
The BJP, however, rejected the charge and claimed that Bag was staging a “drama” and that TMC workers had actually attacked saffron party supporters.
An Election Commission official said a report has been sought on the alleged incident, and central forces were camping at the spot.
In a Facebook Live video, a visibly shaken Bag alleged that her vehicle was attacked near the BJP candidate’s election office.
“When my vehicle was passing by the election office of BJP candidate Prashanta Digar, saffron party-backed miscreants threw stones at our vehicle, smashing its windshield,” she claimed.
Referring to herself as a Dalit woman, Bag said, “I was on my way to the meeting of Abhishek Banerjee when some lathi-wielding BJP workers sitting in front of the office of party candidate Prashanta Digar blocked the way and threw stones at our vehicle.” She said she was seated in the front seat of the MUV while party workers were in the rear.
Appealing to the Election Commission to act on her complaint, she said, “The BJP talks high about the safety of women, but see how they treat a woman MP, a Dalit woman from Bagdi community. CEO Manoj Agarwal, in a recent visit, alleged that TMC workers are terrorising people in the area. But Mr Agarwal, please check the facts.” Claiming she was covered with broken glass shreds, Bag said she went to the local health centre and was wheeled inside by the medical staff.
The TMC shared her video on its social media page, saying, “The attack on a woman Dalit MP by BJP goons shows the true nature of the fascist party.” Speaking at a rally in Nadia district, Abhishek Banerjee said, “Our MP Mitali Bag, an elected female representative from the Scheduled Caste community, was brutally and dastardly attacked by BJP lumpens and thugs. Her car was vandalised. Shards of glass pierced her body.” “TMC will not take this lying down, and the people of Bengal will respond to the attack through the votes. After May 4, we will find every attacker and take appropriate action” Banerjee said.
An official from the CEO’s office said, “We have sought CCTV footage. We are also checking the Facebook Live done by the MP.” BJP spokesperson Debjit Sarkar claimed there was no attack on Bag by saffron party supporters, and instead, TMC workers charged towards BJP supporters in the office and injured several of them. “To divert attention, Bag is now staging a drama,” Sarkar said.
The former BJP president of the Arambagh unit, Biman Ghosh, too, alleged that BJP workers were attacked during a campaign in support of party candidate Prashant Digar.
“While campaigning was underway, some miscreants led by Goghat Trinamool leader Sanjay Khan attacked our workers with sticks, bricks, rods and firearms. Nearly 50 people have been injured, and 20 were admitted to a hospital. Our candidate’s vehicle was also vandalised. Bag is staging a drama to suppress the incident,” Ghosh claimed.
Khan dismissed the allegations and claimed that the BJP workers entered the locality and started hurling bombs targeting residents, who belong to a minority community.
The TMC in an official statement said the threat by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to “our leaders and party workers that anyone who steps out of their house would be hung upside down was acted upon today”.
“This is the extent to which the BJP is willing to go when defeat stares them in the face. Violence. Blood. Attack on a woman. An attack on a Scheduled Caste representative. In broad daylight. Without shame,” TMC said. PTI SCH SUS NN MNB
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