Central Kolkata was gripped by tension on Saturday afternoon as violent clashes erupted between Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Bharatiya Janata Party supporters near Girish Park. The skirmish broke out just five kilometres from the Brigade Parade Ground, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to headline a massive rally later today to mark the finale of the BJP's 'Parivartan Yatra'.
The trouble began as BJP activists made their way towards the venue, chanting slogans in support of the Prime Minister. According to those on the ground, the procession was suddenly pelted with stones, leading to a chaotic scene where both sides reportedly engaged in stone-throwing. "We were heading to the rally peacefully when they started throwing stones without any provocation and shouting abuses at us," one BJP worker claimed while speaking to a local news channel. The party further alleged that several of their vehicles were vandalised during the fracas.
Countering these claims, local TMC workers insisted that the BJP supporters were the aggressors, alleging that the marchers initiated the violence by hurling insults and stones at TMC members and their residences. A significant police presence was quickly deployed to the area to disperse the crowds and restore order before the Prime Minister’s arrival.
The violence has cast a shadow over what is intended to be a major show of strength for the BJP ahead of the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections. Beyond the political rhetoric of the rally, the Prime Minister is also expected to use the visit to unveil a series of development projects valued at over ₹18,000 crore. Since the city remains on high alert, the police are maintaining a strict vigil to ensure the unrest does not spread to other parts of the capital.
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