West Bengal: BJP-Congress clash holds traffic hostage on Central Avenue

KOLKATA: Trouble brewed at the Congress headquarters at Bidhan Bhavan on Saturday after a group of BJP supporters allegedly tore off a flex of Rahul Gandhi, demanding an apology from the Congress leader for his ‘Chowkidar Chor Hai’ remarks. The protest brought the entire area to a standstill with CR Avenue remaining blocked for close to an hour in the afternoon.
A BJP rally that had originated from Ramlila Maidan was passing by Bidhan Bhavan when some of the youths suddenly approached the Congress headquarters gates and started creating a ruckus.A 70-year-old who was standing near the Bidhan Bhavan gate was allegedly assaulted. The group also allegedly threw stones at Bidhan Roy’s statue.
Congress supporters who were at the place alleged that the BJP men also raised ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans and went on a rampage. A huge police force reached the spot to bring the situation under control. Later, around a hundred Congress supporters staged an agitation near the BJP headquarters at Central Avenue, which created traffic snarls on Central Avenue for some time before police managed to disperse the mob.