Take strong action against WB govt for violence during BJP chief's roadshow: Goyal

Piyush Goyal urged ECI to take action against West Bengal Government. His statement came after BJP president Amit Shah's roadshow witnessed violence.

Varanasi:Union minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday urged the Election Commission to take strong action against the West Bengal government for the violence during BJP president Amit Shah's roadshow in Kolkata.

After violence and arson marred BJP president Amit Shah's roadshow in Kolkata, a party delegation, including Union ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, rushed to the EC, seeking its immediate intervention to ensure free and fair polls in the state.

I request the President of India to take cognisance of the matter and ensure a message is send to the voters that they need not fear and they will be getting full protection and should come out fearfully to vote in large numbers on May 19 elections to make the BJP win," he said.

Strong action must be taken against the West Bengal government, the Union minister said.

It is a total break down of law and order in West Bengal, a 'goonda raj' is prevailing in the state under the Mamata Banerjee government, he alleged.
Goyal claimed that stones were hurled, petrol bombs were thrown and criminals attacked people and BJP workers during the roadshow.

"Very sadly, we have to say the Election Commission remains a mute spectator to the violence in West Bengal by the state government, it did not act and could not arrest even a single person," he said.

Goyal said the EC should appoint a special observer and central forces must be deputed.

Read: TMC seeks meeting with EC in aftermath of Shah roadshow violence