NEW DELHI: Clashes erupted between supporters of the TMC and the BJP near Girish Park in central Kolkata on Saturday, around 5 km from the Brigade Parade Ground where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address a rally later in the day. leaving a police officer and a leader of the saffron party injuredClashes broke out between TMC and BJP supporters in central Kolkata on Saturday, barely half an hour before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally at the Brigade Parade Ground, leaving a police officer and a leader of the saffron party injured, officials said.Amid the violence, allegations also surfaced that stones were thrown towards the residence of West Bengal minister Shashi Panja in Girish Park area.According to eyewitnesses, workers from both parties pelted stones at each other and raised slogans during the confrontation. The incident occurred roughly half an hour before PM Modi’s rally, which marks the culmination of the BJP’s statewide ‘Parivartan Yatra’ ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections.BJP supporters alleged that the attack began while they were heading towards the rally venue while raising slogans in support of the prime minister.“Stones were thrown at us without any provocation. They also abused us,” a BJP activist told a Bengali news channel.The BJP claimed that several vehicles were damaged during the clash.Local TMC workers rejected the allegation and countered that BJP supporters had first hurled abuses and started pelting stones. They also claimed that stones were thrown at the residences of local TMC leaders during the incident.A large police contingent rushed to the area and brought the situation under control.During his visit to West Bengal, the prime minister is also expected to unveil and lay the foundation stones of development projects worth over Rs 18,000 crore.
