TMC MP alleges attack on car by BJP, EC seeks report

Mitali Bag alleged BJP workers vandalised her car in Hooghly during campaigning, leaving her injured. BJP denied the charge, accusing TMC supporters of violence. Election authorities sought reports as both parties traded allegations over the incident

Kolkata: TMC MP from Arambagh Mitali Bag alleged that BJP’s goons vandalised her car at Goghat in Hooghly district when she was going to the rally of party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Monday, the last phase of campaigning.

Rejecting the charge, the BJP claimed that Bag is staging a “drama” and that, in fact, TMC workers attacked those of the saffron party. A CEO official said that a report has been sought about the alleged incident and that central forces were camping at the spot.

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In Facebook Live, a sobbing Bag alleged that when her vehicle was passing by the election office of the BJP candidate, miscreants aided by the BJP threw stones at her vehicle, smashing its window panes.
Referring to herself as a Dalit woman, the Arambag MP said she was on her way to the meeting of Abhishek Banerjee “when some lathi-wielding BJP workers sitting before the office of the BJP candidate Prashanta Digar blocked the way and threw stones at our vehicle”. Bag said she was sitting on the front seat of the MUV with some of her party workers in the back seats. Asking the Election Commission to “take responsibility”, she accused the BJP of carrying out an unprovoked attack on TMC workers and even a woman MP.

“The BJP talks high about the safety of women, but see how they treat a woman MP, a Dalit woman from the Bagdi community. CEO Manoj Agarwal, in a recent visit, alleged that TMC workers are terrorising people in the area. But Mr Agarwal, please check the facts,” she said. Bag, claiming she was covered with broken glass shreds, went to the local health centre and was wheeled inside by the medical staff.

The TMC shared her video on its social media page, saying: “The attack on a woman Dalit MP by BJP goons shows the true nature of the fascist party. “TMC will not take this lying down, and the people of Bengal will respond to the attack on a woman MLA by BJP hooligans in the votes,” party state general secretary Kunal Ghosh said.

The CEO official said, “We have sought the CCTV report. We are also checking the Facebook Live done by the MP.” BJP spokesperson Debjit Sarkar claimed there was no attack on Bag by the saffron party, and instead, TMC supporters charged towards BJP activists in the office and injured several of them.
“To divert attention, Bag is now staging a drama,” Sarkar said. The former BJP president of the Arambagh unit, Biman Ghosh, too alleged that BJP workers were attacked during a campaign in support of party candidate Prashant Digar.

“While campaigning was underway, some miscreants led by Goghat Trinamool leader Sanjay Khan attacked our workers with sticks, bricks, rods and firearms. Nearly 50 people have been injured, and 20 were admitted to a hospital. Our candidate’s vehicle was also vandalised. Mitali Bag is staging a drama to suppress the incident,” Ghosh claimed. Khan dismissed the allegations and claimed that the BJP workers entered the locality and started hurling bombs targeting the residents, who belong to a minority community.