Kolkata: Violence marred BJP chief Amit Shah's mega road show in Kolkata today as clashes broke out between the saffron party workers and students of the Calcutta University and Vidyasagar College after the latter protested the rally.
Ugly scenes were witnessed as furious BJP supporters confronted the agitating students and even threw stones and bottles at the University gates. Reports said clashes broke out after sticks were hurled at Amit Shah's truck.
Reports said stones were pelted at Amit Shah's convoy from a college hostel on Bidhan Sarani.
Three bikes were torched in front of Vidyasagar College hostel.Police resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the crowd.
Even the bust of Vidyasagar in Vidyasagar College was also vandalised.Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad workers raised anti-BJP slogans and showed Amit Shah black flags as the roadshow passed in front of the Calcutta University gates in the heart of the city. They also raised slogans of "Amit Shah go back".
The protest irked BJP supporters who charged at the students, resulting in utter chaos and mayhem at the spot in presence of the police.
BJP workers also claimed that the Kolkata Police had helped the Calcutta University students breach the barricade - which was erected between the college premises and the street - and stage protests against Shah and the BJP.
Notably, Trinamool Congress' students' union wing has a strong presence in the students' body at the Calcutta University.
BJP supporters gheraoed the building and returned the attack, according to the officials.The BJP president lashed out at the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC Government over the removal of BJP posters.
"Our posters were removed. They have also killed several of our workers so far. If she (Mamata Banerjee) thinks that she can stop the BJP by using violence, she should know that the more dirt she hurls at us the more the lotus will bloom," he said.
He further said, "TMC goons" had attacked his roadshow at two places - near the University of Calcutta on College Street and the Vidyasagar College hostel on Bidhan Sarani. "
While the BJP blamed the Trinamool Congress for the attacks, the latter held the saffron outfit responsible for the 'unprovoked violence' in which many students and some BJP supporters were injured.
Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee said in today's procession in the city, the BJP brought people from other states, and all cars must be checked.
" Each vote against BJP will be revenge for the attack on Vidyasagar's statue, " she commented.She condemned the arson and attack at Vidyasagar College.
''Amit Shah had come to Kolkata for a rally today. He had brought in people from Rajasthan, UP, Bihar and Jharkhand. The moment the rally ended, BJP goons broke away and started a fire at Vidyasagar College, she stated.(UNI)