In an attempt to prevent further embarrassment for the party, BJP leaders on Thursday visited the homes of workers, who had hosted party national president Amit Shah during his ‘Booth Chalo Abhiyan’ in Kolkata last week.
The development comes a day after Geeta and Raju Mahali, who had hosted lunch for Mr. Shah at Naxalbari in Darjeeling, joined the Trinamool Congress.
BJP leader Locket Chatterjee visited Sandhya Mondal and others in Chetla and Bhawanipore area and shared sweets and buttermilk at their home. She also asked if there was any pressure on the family members. “We are concerned about their security. If TMC can carry out such a heinous act in north Bengal, then they can repeat it in Bhawanipore also,” she told journalists.
‘Police involved’
Meanwhile, protests were organised by the BJP across the State on Thursday alleging that the Naxalbari couple had been “kidnapped and forced” to join the Trinamool.
BJP national secretary Kaliash Vijayvargiya came to the city to participate in a protest rally. “When the couple went missing, our party activists went to lodge a police complaint. The police are involved and they also pressurised the couple to join the Trinamool,” Mr. Vijayvargiya said.
Countering the allegations, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP of “maligning” Bengal and “using obscene language” against her.
In an obvious reference to Mr. Vijayvargiya, she said, “A few BJP leaders from outside, who neither have an idea of the State nor its culture, are trying to disrupt the harmony in Bengal.”
(with inputs from PTI)
