Kolkatta boils, TMC-BJP blame each other

The BJP and the Trinamool Congress are blaming each other for the violence that rocked part of Kolkatta after the BJP President Amit Shah's road show as breaking of Bengal's Icon Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar by suspectedBJP goons made situation of Bengal this morning very emotional.

This video is the ultimate proof of who vandalised #Vidyasagar 's statue.
Share and expose the goons of BJP.

This is a sad sad day in our state. We will ensure that BJP is sent back from Bengal. pic.twitter.com/GdsH3X7i23

— Truth of West Bengal (@Truth_of_WB) May 14, 2019

The West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee quickly seized the opportunity and made it an emotional tool for the "Bengali Bhadrolok" as Twitter footage clearly showed that it was the handiwork of the BJP hooligans.

 Mr. Shah called it anattempt to "strangulate democracy" while Bengal  Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said theviolence was triggered by goons the BJP brought from outside Bengal.

The "Save Republic rally" was a huge show completewith saffron balloons, BJP flags, and artistes dressed as Hanumans dancing to"Jai Shri Ram" beats, all showered by marigold petals  and Kolkatta was not used to see suchrallies.

The violence started on Tuesday evening at the gates ofCalcutta University  as  a section of students gave anti BJP slogans  and BJP supporters attacked them. In nearby  College Street as Amit Shah's van passed byVidyasagar College but rallyists following him allegedly charged at thestudents standing with "Go Back Amit Shah" posters.

No matter how many chowkidaars you make to do violence in West Bengal. It won't influence Bengal.
Bengal is the land of intellectuals. Bengal is land of vivekanada, shubhas chandra bose ; it doesn't believes in bigotry. You have insulted the values #Vidyasagar stood for.
(4/n)

— 𝑹𝒂𝒅𝒉𝒊𝒌𝒂 🌈🌻 (@RadhikaBarman5) May 14, 2019

For those who want video footage#Vidyasagar statue demolition by BJP's uncultured supporters
See this#bengal #kolkata #may19 pic.twitter.com/qvrHQjzN2n

— Kumar কুমার 库马尔 कुमार كومار Кумаp (@kumarsroy) May 14, 2019

The BJP supporters rushed into the campus, set motorcycleson fire and vandalized the bust of Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar — a 19th centuryeducationist and social reformer. Mamata Banerjee visited the college in theevening.

The police initially used batons to bring the crowd undercontrol. Later, several people were arrested for the violence, a police officersaid.

"What does Amit Shah think of himself? Is he aboveeverything? Is he God that no one can protest against him?" MamataBanerjee said. Senior Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien tweeted:"Desperate BJP goons from outside Bengal smash statue of Ishwar ChandraVidyasagar inside the college. Violent mob of BJP 'outsiders' in presence ofPuke worthy Shah. How little you know about Bengal, its rich history, itsculture. Bengal will never forgive for what you did today."

Accusing the ruling Trinamool Congress of engineering theviolence, Amit Shah said it was a bid to "strangulate democracy".Alleging that 60 BJP workers were killed during the panchayat polls, he said itwas also an attempt to "influence" the election. "Have faith inthe people of Bengal that they'd face the TMC goons," he said.