Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 5: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged a strong protest against the killings of BJP leaders and activists during post poll violence in West Bengal, at Purani Mandi here, today. BJP alleged that the violence against its leaders, workers and activists is being perpetrated by Trinamool Congress workers and activists under the patronage of their leader Mamata Banerjee.
According to a handout issued by BJP the protest was organized under the chairmanship of Parveen Kerni, president BJP East Mandal after the call given by BJP national president, JP Nadda for nationwide protests today. Strictly following the COVID-SOPs, the BJP activists and workers led by the party general secretary (Org) J&K, Ashok Koul and vice president J&K, Yudhvir Sethi first paid homage to the BJP leaders who were done to death.
Later during the protest, carrying placards in their hands, the party activists raised slogans against the Trinamool Congress and its allies. The BJP workers also burnt the effigy of Mamata Banerjee amid thunderous slogans during the protest.
Talking to media persons, Ashok Kaul expressed serious concern over the ‘political violence and killings’ in West Bengal.
While paying tributes to those killed in the violence, Kaul termed them as martyrs. He slammed the Trinamool Congress and accused Mamata Banerjee of providing patronage to Goonda elements in the State and letting loose a reign of terror across West Bengal. He said that keeping in view the magnitude of killings, violence and arson the needle of suspicion points towards the role of police being that of mute spectators.
Yudhvir Sethi said that the situation in West Bengal is exactly like that of partition violence and the crisis there calls for immediate imposition of President’s rule to prevent further violence and deterioration leading to loss of life and property especially when the nation is struggling in battle against the onslaught of second wave of COVID-19 pandemic. He demanded that those behind this violence and killings be booked and brought to justice.
Among those who joined the protest included Rajinder Sikka, Vipan Sharma, Arun Sethi, Sudhir Anand, Subhash Anand, Amit Luthra, Naresh Abrol, Kartar Gupta, Amit Gupta, Harvinder Singh, Charanjeet Majotra, Sanjay Kohli, Sanjeev Sharma, Sukhveer Kohli, Shiv Kumar Sharma, Pawan Sharma, Anil Balgotra, Sandeep Dogra and many workers.