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Mamata fumes at Shah after Kolkata violence

New Delhi, May 14:

Launching a scathing attack on Amit Shah West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has accused the BJP preseident of bringing in hired goons from outside the state.

Banerjee's remarks came on Tuesday night after several hours of violence during which workers and supporters of the BJP and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) fought pitched battles on the streets of Kolkata.

The violence took place when BJP president Amit Shah’s rally came under attack at College Street near the iconic Presidency College and Calcutta University. Stones were allegedly pelted at the rally from the Vidyasagar College hostel.

In the clashes that followed, a mob of BJP workers allegedly vandalised the college campus and a bust of 19th century social reformer Iswarchandra Vidyasagarm, a key figure in the Bengal renaissance, was damaged.

Banerjee, who visited the college later to assess the damage, lashed out at Amit Shah, blaming him for the violence.

"What does Amit Shah think of himself? Is he above everything? Is he God that no one can protest against him?" Banerjee told reporters.

"They are so uncultured that they have broken the bust of Vidyasagar. All of them are outsiders. The BJP have brought these goons from outside the state and intends to use them on the day of polls," she added.

The TMC chief, who also visited the Calcutta University campus, asserted that the state's ruling party will stage a protest rally on Wednesday.

"Does Shah know about the heritage of the Calcutta University? Is he aware abou the famous personalities who had studied here? Amit Shah should be ashamed of this attack," she fumed.

Banerjee also lashed out at the Election Commission and accused the body of avoiding strict action against the BJP for spending huge amount of unaccounted money during the elections.

"While travelling along Bidhan Sarani (a road in north Kolkata), I saw huge cutouts of Shah and (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi. The BJP is spending a lot of money. Why is the EC not taking action against them?" the chief minister said.

Meanwhile, Kolkata Police officials informed that more than a hundred people have been arrested in connection with the violence.

News24 Bureau

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