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TMC, BJP spar over Bengal foundation day
Kolkata: Trinamool and BJP clashed on Friday over Bengal foundation day.
Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar alleged that police tried to stop a two-wheeler rally led by him from reaching Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's residence on Elgin Road.
TMC criticised BJP, saying that the saffron party attempted to force a celebration that lacked spontaneity and with which people have no association.
Centre has notified June 20 as statehood day in Bengal. Bengal govt has passed a resolution in the assembly and identified Poila Baisakh, the Bengali New Year's Day, for celebrating West Bengal Day.
The Friday faceoff between activists of BJP Yuva Morcha and the city police took place outside the Bhowanipore residence of Jan Sangh founding member Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee, where the workers had assembled to pay their respects to the leader and then planned to reach Netaji Bhavan, a kilometre away, on two-wheelers and on foot.
Suvendu Adhikari, state leader of the opposition, earlier led a march of BJP legislators from the assembly premises to the statue of Syama Prasad Mookerjee on Red Road, about two kilometres away, and garlanded it. "This is a historic day which we must observe. On this day in 1947, the West Bengal Assembly under the leadership of Syama Prasad Mookerjee passed a resolution to remain in India," Adhikari said.
Trinamool hit back strongly.
by Taboola
by Taboola
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"The people of Bengal have already chosen their statehood day on the first day of the Bengali calendar. It's a day close to the hearts of all Bengalis. The state assembly has already endorsed it. It doesn't matter where a motley band of BJP workers gather and try to force a celebration that lacks spontaneity and with which people have no direct association," said TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh.
State parliamentary affairs minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay described it as "politically motivated", pointing out that state govt had already passed a resolution in the assembly and identified Poila Baisakh, the Bengali New Year's Day, for celebrating West Bengal Day. "Why is BJP suddenly so much worked up on June 20 as Paschimbanga Divas?" he asked.
