• Source:JND

Hours before the poll campaign, a video of an alleged attack on a TMC MP's vehicle has sparked a major political row. The Facebook Live video, recorded from the rear seat of an SUV of TMC MP from Arambagh Mitali Bag, shows a large group of men surrounding the vehicle.

The crowd could be seen striking the vehicles when a man suddenly lunges onto the car's bonnet. The attack causes cracks in the windshield.

Bag, who seems distressed, called the 'lathi-wielding' mob workers of the BJP candidate Prasanta Digar. She alleged that they blocked her convoy and threw stones at her vehicle, which left the windowpanes shattered. Seated in the front seat, she said she was left covered in broken glass.

The incident, she claimed took place at Goghat in Hooghly district near the BJP candidate's office, while she was heading for a rally of party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on the last day of campaigning.

"When my vehicle was passing by the election office of BJP candidate Prashanta Digar, saffron party-backed miscreants threw stones at our vehicle, smashing its windshield," she claimed.

Referring to herself as a Dalit woman, Bag said, "I was on my way to the meeting of Abhishek Banerjee when some lathi-wielding BJP workers sitting in front of the office of party candidate Prashanta Digar blocked the way and threw stones at our vehicle."

Making an appeal to the poll body to act on her complaint, Bag said, "The BJP talks high about the safety of women, but see how they treat a woman MP, a Dalit woman from the Bagdi community. CEO Manoj Agarwal, in a recent visit, alleged that TMC workers are terrorising people in the area. But Mr Agarwal, please check the facts."

EC seeks report

The Election Commission has sought a report on the alleged incident, an official was cited as saying by news agency PTI. An official from the CEO's office said, "We have sought CCTV footage. We are also checking the Facebook Live done by the MP."

The ruling TMC has also shared the video on its social media page, saying, "The attack on a woman Dalit MP by BJP goons shows the true nature of the fascist party."

Abhishek Banerjee, while speaking at a rally in Nadia district, also raised the issue, saying, "Our MP Mitali Bag, an elected female representative from the Scheduled Caste community, was brutally and dastardly attacked by BJP lumpens and thugs. Her car was vandalised. Shards of glass pierced her body."

"TMC will not take this lying down, and the people of Bengal will respond to the attack through the votes. After May 4, we will find every attacker and take appropriate action" Banerjee said.

BJP's staged drama charge

The BJP rejected the accusations, calling the incident a staged drama by Bag. The saffron party further alleged that TMC workers had actually attacked saffron party supporters.

"To divert attention, Bag is now staging a drama," BJP spokesperson Debjit Sarkar claimed.


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