BJP, TMC to hold protest rallies over Kolkata violence

TMC and BJP will hold protest rallies against the violence that ensued during Amit Shah's roadshow in Kolkata. While BJP will protest against the 'cowardly attack', TMC will do so against the alleged vandalism and desecration of well known social reformist and one of the architects of Bengal renaissance Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar's statue.

New Delhi: A day after violence broke out during BJP National President Amit Shah's roadshow in Kolkata, the saffron party and Trinamool Congress will hold protest rallies on Wednesday.

• A national protest against the cowardly attack on BJP National President's roadshow in Kolkata, would be held at 10:30 am on Wednesday, 15th May at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi.
  
  Please join and register your protest against this goondaism. pic.twitter.com/reXehYJI5c

  — BJP (@BJP4India) May 14, 2019 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  A national protest against the cowardly attack on BJP National President's roadshow in Kolkata, would be held at 10:30 am on Wednesday, 15th May at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi.
  
  Please join and register your protest against this goondaism. pic.twitter.com/reXehYJI5c

  — BJP (@BJP4India) May 14, 2019

  ">

  A national protest against the cowardly attack on BJP National President's roadshow in Kolkata, would be held at 10:30 am on Wednesday, 15th May at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi.
  
  Please join and register your protest against this goondaism. pic.twitter.com/reXehYJI5c

  — BJP (@BJP4India) May 14, 2019

While the BJP will hold a joint protest at Jantar Mantar against 'the cowardly attack' on Shah's roadshow, Trinamool Congress will also reportedly hold a protest rally in Kolkata, against the desecration of the Vidyasagar statue.

Earlier on May 14, BJP and TMC supporters fought pitched battle on the streets of Kolkata during a roadshow by Shah, who escaped unhurt but was forced to cut short the jamboree and had to be escorted to safety by the police.

Parts of Kolkata plunged into a welter of violence as the BJP president's convoy was attacked with stones by alleged TMC supporters from inside the hostel of Vidyasagar College, triggering a clash between supporters of the two parties.

Furious BJP supporters then reportedly retaliated and were seen exchanging blows with their TMC rivals outside the college entrance.

• Here's a picture of the desecrated bust of #Vidyasagar ... More proof of vandalism by #BJP goons at Amit Shah's road show. #Kolkata pic.twitter.com/vQDlKj6vfj

  — Derek O'Brien | ডেরেক ও’ব্রায়েন (@derekobrienmp) May 15, 2019 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  Here's a picture of the desecrated bust of #Vidyasagar ... More proof of vandalism by #BJP goons at Amit Shah's road show. #Kolkata pic.twitter.com/vQDlKj6vfj

  — Derek O'Brien | ডেরেক ও’ব্রায়েন (@derekobrienmp) May 15, 2019

  ">

  Here's a picture of the desecrated bust of #Vidyasagar ... More proof of vandalism by #BJP goons at Amit Shah's road show. #Kolkata pic.twitter.com/vQDlKj6vfj

  — Derek O'Brien | ডেরেক ও’ব্রায়েন (@derekobrienmp) May 15, 2019

Several motorcycles parked outside were vandalised and set ablaze. Shards of broken glass littered the lobby of the college where a bust of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, a noted philosopher and a key figure of Bengal Renaissance, was smashed to pieces.

Read: Violent clashes, arson mar Shah's Kolkata jamboree