Convoy of Himanta & Dilip Ghosh allegedly attacked by TMC in West Bengal

May 7: The convoy of Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Bengal Unit President Dilip Ghosh was attacked in West Bengal’s East Midnapore district on Tuesday evening allegedly by supporters of ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC). However, the two leaders escaped unhurt, but their vehicles were vandalised.

We are at Khejuri in Kanthi LS constituency and attacked mercilessly by @AITCofficial goons. Many of our workers are injured even as @MamataOfficial goons gheraoing and abusing us. @BJP4Bengal President @DilipGhoshBJP and I are stuck.

— Chowkidar Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) May 7, 2019

In a series of tweets, Sarma said he and Ghosh were “gheraoed” and “mercilessly attacked” by West Bengal CM and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee’s “goons” in Khejuri Lok Sabha constituency. Sarma said the TMC “goons” blocked the roads even as the West Bengal police stood “mute spectators” in the entire episode.

While reinforcement from @crpfindia has arrived, the violent #TMC goons are not allowing the forces to rescue us. @AITCofficial cadres shouting and abusing everyone. Scene here is scary!@ECISVEEP pic.twitter.com/ECL94GDoJO

— Chowkidar Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) May 7, 2019

“We are at Khejuri in Kanthi LS constituency and attacked mercilessly by @AITCofficial goons. Many of our workers are injured even as @MamataOfficial goons gheraoing and abusing us. @BJP4Bengal President @DilipGhoshBJP and I are stuck,” he tweeted at 8.04 pm on Tuesday. A few minutes later, Sarma tweeted: “While reinforcement from @crpfindia has arrived, the violent #TMC goons are not allowing the forces to rescue us. @AITCofficial cadres shouting and abusing everyone. Scene here is scary!”

However, senior Trinamool leader and state minister Suvendu Adhikari denied any role of party workers in the incident. “We do not believe in such dirty politics. Goons backed by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) might have been behind the incident,” Adhikari was quoted as saying. The ruling Trinamool Congress and BJP are locked in a fierce electoral battle in the state.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal condemned the Khejuri incident where Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was allegedly attacked by the Trinamool Congress supporter at Kanthi in West Bengal and demanded probe into the incident. In his official Twitter Sonowal wrote: “This is the state of affairs in Bengal. Mamata Didi, defeat is staring at your face and no matter whatever dirty tactics you adopt, you can’t avert the imminent defeat. We strongly condemn these kinds of cowardly attacks. People will punish this goondaism.”

This is the state of affairs in Bengal. @MamataOfficial Didi, defeat is staring at your face and no matter whatever dirty tactics you adopt, you can't avert the imminent defeat.

We strongly condemn these kinds of cowardly attacks. People will punish this goondaism. https://t.co/NafYsU8kTr

— Chowkidar Sarbananda Sonowal (@sarbanandsonwal) May 7, 2019