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Kolkata: Clashes broke out between supporters of the Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party in central Kolkata on Saturday, shortly before Prime
Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to address a rally in the city. The incident took place near Girish Park, around 5 km from Brigade Parade Ground where the prime minister’s public meeting was planned later in the day. According to BJP supporters, stones were suddenly thrown at them when they were heading towards the rally venue while raising slogans in support of Modi. “Stones were thrown at us without any provocation. They also abused us,” a BJP activist told a Bengali news channel.
Eyewitnesses said supporters of both parties later started throwing stones at each other and shouting slogans, which led to tension in the area. The BJP also alleged that several vehicles were damaged during the clashes.
However, local workers of the Trinamool Congress denied the allegations. They claimed that BJP supporters first abused them and started the confrontation.
TMC workers also alleged that stones were thrown at the residences of some local party leaders during the clash.
A large police team rushed to the area soon after the incident and brought the situation under control.
The clash took place about half an hour before Modi’s rally at Brigade Parade Ground, which marks the final event of the BJP’s statewide ‘Parivartan Yatra’ ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in West Bengal.
During his visit to the state, the prime minister is also scheduled to unveil and lay the foundation stones for development projects worth over Rs 18,000 crore.
