Kolkata: A late-night clash outside Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee’s home in Kolkata’s Kalighat in the early hours of Saturday has led to a sharp exchange between Mamata Banerjee and the BJP. Mamata accused the BJP of trying to intimidate her party and disrupt Kali Puja celebrations.
After visiting the spot, she challenged the BJP directly. “You want to bring in bulldozers? Go ahead. Run them over us, over our bodies. Bring as many bulldozers as you want. I am standing right here.”
Abhishek Banerjee said BJP supporters attacked his Kalighat Road residence around 2 am. “After two days of continuous recce, this is how BJP hooligans attacked my house at 2 AM today. Watch the footage and see for yourself. If this is what can happen to an elected Member of Parliament, imagine the plight of the common man in WB. This is the seventh attempt on my life in the last six months. Yet, there has been no police action and no judicial intervention,” he wrote on X.
Claims Over Kali Puja
Mamata also said that Kali Puja celebrations in the area were being stopped. She alleged that permission for old local pujas had been taken away, while a new puja was allowed on the main road, as reported by India Today.
“This is completely illegal. Look at the club in our area; they wouldn’t let us carry on with our activities all night long. Look at the ‘puja’ that has been set up right on the main road; it was granted illegal permission. A ‘puja’ was never held there before; it used to take place inside. Yesterday evening, around 9:00 PM, they placed it right at the road bend, effectively blocking access to our own ‘puja’. What is this? This is pure high-handedness and oppression,” she said.
She said the area has long been used for Kali Puja processions and accused the BJP of creating problems before the festival. “The local clubs have been organising Kali Puja celebrations in this area for years. But this time, the BJP is trying to disrupt them and prevent people from attending these pujas,” she added.
TMC Hits Back At BJP
Mamata said TMC workers were being targeted because the party supports the INDIA bloc. “They target us because we stand with the INDIA bloc. What do they expect? That they will oppress people and we will remain silent? No, that will not happen,” she told reporters.
She accused the BJP of using “hooliganism” to create trouble in the area and said her party would not stay silent.
