BJP claims party worker shot at for chanting 'Jai Shri Ram' in Kolkata

In yet another shocking incident, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday alleged that one of its workers suffered injuries after he was shot at by Trinamool Congress activists for chanting "Jai Shri Ram" in South 24 Parganas district. However, the ruling party-led by CM Mamata Banerjee has denied the charge by BJP. 

The BJP worker, who has been identified as Ramprasad Mandal, was shot in his leg and has been hospitalised, the police informed in the matter. Officials also added that a case has been lodged in the matter and the probe is underway. 

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Speaking to news agency PTI, BJP sources said that the party worker was sitting at a tea stall in the Baruipur when the incident took place. The incident took place on Thursday, the party sources added. BJP sources went on to allege that the Ramprasad Mandal was speaking about BJP government's achievements at the Centre and chanting "Jai Shri Ram" slogans when he was shot at by Trinamool activists. They further stated that a scuffle broke out between Mandal and some local Trinamool Congress activists when they asked him to stop chanting "Jai Shri Ram"

"Soon after, TMC activists opened fire and he was hit in his right leg. Party workers and locals then took him to a nearby hospital," a local BJP leader said.

Meanwhile, denying the allegations by BJP, the TMC leadership called them "baseless" and claimed that the attack was a result of "infighting within the BJP".

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BJP vs Trinamool

Incidents of violence have allegedly been on a verge since the 2019 Lok Sabha polls in the state of West Bengal. Several incidents of violence surfaced from various parts of the state allegedly over chants of "Jai Shri Ram" during the poll campaigning. In the 2019 General elections, the BJP made major inroads in the state bagging 18 out of the 42 Lok Sabha seats, with TMC's tally coming down to 22 seats from 34 in 2014. In another incident, BJP Bengal took to Twitter and slammed the Mamata Banerjee administration in the state over the murder of a Hindu priest & BJP worker from Nadia. 

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(With PTI inputs)