TMC, BJP trade blame as Supriyo’s car is attacked
kolkata — A Union Minister was attacked, Central forces fired in the air after Trinamool Congress backed villagers vandalised a booth, while there were reports of clashes, intimidation and booth capturing as violence overshadowed all other developments in the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal on Monday.
Car of Babul Supriyo, Union Minister and BJP candidate from Asansol, was vandalised allegedly by stone pelting Trinamool Congress supporters, but the minister escaped unharmed with only the rear glass of the vehicle being damaged.
Trouble erupted at Asansol’s Barabani after Supriyo went inside a polling booth to ensure his party agents were allowed inside.
“They are trying to stop me. But they won’t be able to stop me like this. I will move to ensure that BJP agents are allowed,” Supriyo said before leaving the area.
“These men are attacking my car and saying I am resorting to hooliganism. It is a ploy to confine me at a place but I will move,” he said.
While Trinamool workers alleged that Supriyo and his men had manhandled them, the Election Commission (EC) sources said a detailed report has been sought on the matter.
The polls were stalled in a booth at Oduma under the Dubrajpur assembly segment of Birbhum constituency where Central forces fired in the air after irate villagers allegedly owing allegiance to the Trinamool Congress vandalised the booth. However, Trinamool’s Birbhum constituency candidate Satabdi Roy alleged that two persons — a woman and a youth — were injured
These men are attacking my car and saying I am resorting to hooliganism. It is a ploy to confine me at a place Babul Supriyo, Union Minister and BJP candidate
in the firing by the Central paramiliatary troopers.
“Central forces have resorted to firing. One woman was injured, one youth was injured. Who has given them such rights? They are going from booth to booth and asking people to vote for the BJP,” she said.
“They are also asking whether the BJP agent is present in the booth. Are they BJP agents who have come to the state to ensure the victory of Narendra Modi? They are speaking so rudely, and threatening to fire. There are only four of them in a booth. If people get agitated, can they control?”
Echoing Roy, an angry West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said law and order was a state subject and Central forces have no right to “fire or resort to baton charge”.
“Law and order is not a central subject. Even if they want to parade, they have to take the state police along with them. We know the law. The BJP is forcibly misusing the law,” the chief minister said. —
Central forces have resorted to firing. They are going from booth to booth and asking people to vote for the BJP Satabdi Roy, TMC candidate from Birbhum