BJP chief J.P. Nadda began the second day of his tour of West Bengal on Thursday as the saffron party continued preparations to challenge the ruling Trinamool Congress in next year's Assembly polls.
On Thursday, Dilip Ghosh, the chief of the West Bengal BJP unit, announced there had been "serious security lapses" during the first day of Nadda's visit. Ghosh said he had written about the incidents to Union Home Minister Amit Shah. News agency ANI repotted the Union Home Ministry will seek a report from West Bengal government over the concerns raised on the security of Nadda.
Ghosh's letter to Shah claimed that during Nadda's engagements in Kolkata on Wednesday lapses occurred "due to negligence and/or casual approach of the state police department".
Ghosh alleged that at the BJP office in Hastings, Kolkata, a mob "of 200 plus with sticks, bamboos, etc. [were] demonstrating raising black flags". Ghosh alleged the protesters even climbed atop cars parked outside the BJP office and raised slogans. "Police did not intervene to stop them and casually allowed them to come within a close perimeter of Nadda ji's vehicle," Ghosh wrote.
Ghosh wrote that during Wednesday's programmes of Nadda, "the pilot car provided by the state police did not create a smooth and safe passage... for Nadda... His convoy was stopped at many traffic lights".
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Ghosh alleged there was "complete violation" on part of West Bengal government to ensure "full security" arrangements for Nadda, a Z-category protectee covered by the CRPF.
Ghosh alleged that during the programme of Nadda at Diamond Harbour on Thursday, Trinamool Congress "goons" were planning "big protest in multiple places on the way towards Diamond Harbour from New Town".
Last year, the Union home ministry issued advisories to the West Bengal government voicing concern over political violence.
