Kolkata’s streets turned into a battleground on Saturday morning as violent clashes erupted in the Girish Park area, just hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to address a massive rally at Brigade Parade Ground. Trinamool Congress workers are said to have attacked a bus full of BJP supporters. Stones broke windows, workers were left bleeding on the road, and the city’s political temperature shot through the roof.
Witnesses say the attack happened while the BJP convoy was driving through the narrow streets near Girish Park. Suddenly, a group of men, who BJP leaders said were TMC workers, surrounded the car and started throwing stones.
A number of passengers were hurt. Survivors said the scene was full of screams, broken glass, and chaos.They blocked the road and started throwing rocks without warning. “We were just going to a rally; this was a planned attack,” said a BJP supporter who saw it happen.
Police quickly got to the scene and used force to break up the crowds. Barricades were put up in the nearby lanes, and more people were sent to sensitive areas along the route. By mid-morning, things were still tense but under control. Both sides were already accusing each other on national television.
The BJP did not waste a moment. Top BJP officials held emergency press conferences, calling the incident “State-sponsored terrorism.” They demanded the arrest of the TMC leadership. However, the Trinamool Congress denied their role in the incident and accused the BJP of planning the attack for political gains, as the PM’s visit was scheduled to take place soon.
However, this is not the first instance of a clash between the BJP and the TMC. West Bengal has often witnessed a series of clashes between the two parties. Both the BJP and the TMC have accused the other of planning and executing the attacks. However, the incident took a different turn as the PM was present in the city on the same day.
In fact, live visuals of the aftermath were shared on social media, showing broken glasses, overturned cars, and injured party workers being taken care of by passersby. The visuals only added to the already volatile news cycle.
As PM Modi took the stage at Brigade Parade Ground later in the day, the Girish Park clash has already become a topic of discussion – not just in Bengal, but across the country. With elections round the corner, it’s clear that Bengal’s political battle is far from over. The question now isn’t just who threw the first stone, but how many more are to follow.
