Brick hurled at ‘cow protector’ Supriyo, MP blames Trinamool
BURDWAN: Union minister Babul Supriyo said he was attacked by ruling Trinamool Congress supporters with brickbats on Wednesday during a visit to Asansol, his constituency in West Bengal.
The alleged incident occurred around 4:15pm when the singerturned-politician was on his way to a police station to lodge a complaint against ruling party activists, who had allegedly assaulted BJP supporters staging a “peaceful demonstration” in front of the residence of state labour minister Malay Ghatak.
The genesis of the trouble could be traced to an incident on Tuesday afternoon when Supriyo turned into a “gaurakshak” after spotting a herd of 40-50 cows being brought from a rural cattle market at Lalganj.
He insisted that the four persons, who were shepherding the cows, be arrested by the police
Police refused to comment on the incident.
The minister of state for heavy industries is said to have sustained minor injuries when a piece of brick hit him on his chest as he emerged from his car to pacify the agitated TMC supporters.
“I was lucky to escape with a minor injury. The glass panes of my car were shattered,” the minister told the media before leaving for Kolkata.
A large contingent of police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.
BJP national secretary Sidharth Nath Singh accused the TMC of resorting to violence as it was rattled by his party’s growth in the state. More than 200 BJP workers had been targeted in the state in last few months, he alleged. Local BJP leaders claimed five cars, including the vehicle of the minister, and 10 motorbikes of their members were vandalised by the TMC activists.
To protest against “police inaction” a group of BJP supporters began protesting outside Ghatak’s residence on Wednesday.