Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and other top Trinamool Congress leaders on Tuesday replaced their Twitter profile pictures, immediately after violence during BJP chief's roadshow, with that of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar's image in an attempt to get political mileage as they alleged that bust of the renowned social reformist and champion of the widow remarriage advocacy was desecrated by saffron party workers.
TMC leaders claimed that it was done to protest against vandalisation of Vidyasagar's bust. They alleged that it was done by BJP workers during clashes at Amit Shah's rally in Kolkata.
Profile pictures of Banerjee, Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien and official Twitter handle of the TMC were changed following the violence during BJP president Amit Shah's roadshow.
They also changed their display pictures on their respective Facebook pages to condemn the vandalisation.
Lashing-out at BJP, Trinamool spokesperson, Derek O'Brien called Amit Shah "ignorant" and asked him to "try his luck somewhere else".
Derek said, "Vidyasagar's statue inside the Vidyasagar College was vandalised in the presence of Amit Shah by supporters and goons of the BJP. Bengal will give a loud and clear message when those ballot boxes will open. Go back Amit Shah, try your luck somewhere else."
Slamming both BJP and Trinamool the West Bengal Congress said, "Trinamool and BJP clash led to the vandalisation of Vidyasagar Statue. The man who fought for women's education, started remarriage for widows and many more. Do you want these creatures of dark ages to rule u?"
There was also a brawl when a group of people shouted slogans against Amit Shah showed him black flags during the roadshow. Mamata Banerjee later visited the university campus where she launched a scathing attack on Amit Shah.
"Does Shah know the heritage of the Calcutta University? Is he aware of the famous personalities who had studied here? He should be ashamed of this attack," Mamata said, adding that there will be a protest rally on Wednesday.
The Bengal CM also criticised the Election Commission for not acting against BJP, which she said is spending huge sums of unaccounted money in the elections.
Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajesh Kumar said that more than 100 people have been taken into custody.
Meanwhile, the BJP hit back and urged the Election Commission to bar West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee from campaigning in the state and alleged that "constitutional machinery" has collapsed here.
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.
The BJP also demanded that "miscreants" and "history-sheeters" present in the constituencies, which go to polls in the last phase of the Lok Sabha election on May 19, should be arrested and removed from these places. Central forces should also carry out flag march in the poll-bound seats, the party told the EC.
According to the official, Clashes between BJP and TMC was triggered when Amit Shah's convoy was pelted with stones allegedly by TMC supporters from inside the hostel of Vidyasagar College, triggering a clash between supporters of the two parties.
It is to be noted that the Trinamool Congress has also sought a meeting with the Election Commission over this incident. An FIR has been lodged against BJP President Amit Shah regarding this incident.
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