“Ma Durga’s Grace Helped Me”: BJP Chief JP Nadda On Attack In Bengal

Kolkata:

BJP president JP Nadda’s convoy was attacked with bricks and stones near Kolkata this afternoon and many cars were damaged. BJP leaders were also injured in the attack, the party alleged, accusing the Mamata Banerjee government of a serious lapse in security. Home Minister Amit Shah has asked for a report on the incident which, BJP leaders alleged, was orchestrated by the state’s ruling Trinamool Congress.

A dramatic video shared online shows a car, said to be part of the BJP chief’s convoy, being attacked with bricks and the windscreen and windows shattering. “If I have reached here for the meeting, it’s due to Ma Durga’s grace,” said Mr Nadda.

The Trinamool, however, accused the BJP of “intentional provocation” and attempting to stir trouble.

The BJP leaders were travelling to Diamond Harbour in South 24 Parganas near Kolkata when the attack took place around 12 noon. Diamond Harbour is the parliamentary constituency of Trinamool MP Abhishek Banerjee, the nephew of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Some BJP workers on motorcycles were attacked with sticks. Several media vehicles were also hit with stones. Reports suggest the attack was the result of the BJP convoy passing an area at the same time as a Trinamool rally.

“Mukul Roy and Kailash Vijayvargiya were injured in the attack. It is a shame on democracy. There isn’t a car in our convoy which was not attacked. I am safe because I was travelling in a bulletproof car. This state of lawlessness and intolerance in West Bengal has to end,” Mr Nadda told reporters.

Addressing a rally, the BJP chief said: “This goondaraj cannot be allowed to continue. This is jungle raj, the administration has collapsed.”

Kailash Vijayvargiya, showing bruises on his arm, said: “I have been injured in this attack. The party president’s car was also attacked. We strongly condemn it. In the presence of police, goons attacked us. It felt as if we were not in our own country.”

Responding to the allegations, Bengal minister Subrata Mukherjee said the incident was “created” and the BJP was trying to disrupt peace as part of its political agenda. “Nadda is doing provocative things. This was all pre-planned. If someone has done wrong, it they are our people, they will be punished. But I urge our supporters not to fall into their trap. I urge our people to keep distance. The incident will be probed by the government and steps will be taken,” the minister said.

BJP’s Bengal chief Dilip Ghosh alleged that a mob armed with sticks had gathered to attack Mr Nadda’s convoy. Policemen were barely present even though the BJP president has Z-category security, he charged. The police, he alleged, failed to provide smooth passage to the convoy.

Mr Nadda is on a two-day visit to Kolkata as the BJP preps its campaign for the Bengal election due in six months.

Mr Ghosh said he had written to the Union Home Minister just yesterday expressing concern about Mr Nadda’s security. He said black flags were raised and some even climbed on the cars parked outside the BJP office in Kolkata when Mr Nadda was visiting on on Wednesday.

“At our party office at Hastings, Kolkata, there was a mob of 200 plus with sticks, bamboos etc demonstrating raising black flags. Some of them climbed on the cars parked outside the office and raised slogans. Police did not intervene to stop them and casually allowed them to come within a close perimeter of Nadda ji”s vehicle,” Mr Ghosh said in his letter to Amit Shah.

Mr Ghosh said he had separately written to the Superintendent of Police of South 24 Parganas district about his concerns. According to him, party workers had information that Trinamool supporters would organise multiple protests when Mr Nadda visited the Diamond Harbour area.

“It is an absolute lie. You don’t inform the state government. You come with your own central security. It is up to Nadda sahab. If he had informed, we would have provided security,” Bengal minister Firhad Hakim said, in the state government’s first response to the incident and the BJP’s allegations.

Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, who has had a running feud with Mamata Banerjee, said he had warned the Chief Secretary and had been told that the route had been sanitized. “Concerned at alarming reports of anarchy and lawlessness. Mamata Banerjee indicating ruling party harmads on rampage at BJP president convoy and political police WB police in support…As constitutional head I share my shame with you as it is on account of your acts of omission and commission,” he tweeted.