Quite disappointing
West Bengal: Bankura BJP workers hit the streets against Union MoS’ ‘dictatorial attitude’
Days after BJP workers locked Union Minister of State for Education Subhas Sarkar inside his office, the party’s workers burnt tyres and protested against the local MP’s “dictatorial attitude” West Bengal’s in Bankura district on Satuday.
Protesting at Saltora in Bankura district, the protesters also expressed their grievances against BJP’s Bankura president Sunil Rudra Mondal.
On September 12, BJP workers had locked up the Union Minister at the party office when Sarkar was chairing a meeting. A large police contingent was rushed to the spot to rescue the minister who faced sloganeering by the party workers. The party workers had alleged that Sarkar, who is the Lok Sabha MP from Bankura, was not giving importance to dedicated party workers and making people close to him members of the district committee.
BJP leader Rahul Gangopadhyay, who led Saturday’s protest, said, “During the state panchayat election, our workers were attacked by Trinamool Congress members. Our vehicles were vandalised. Since then, our senior leadership including the Union Minister didn’t enquire about the condition of the workers who were attacked. They did not stand by us or extend a helping hand. To mark our protest, we have decided to hit the streets. We appeal to them to work as per the norms and rules of the party.”
The protesters also alleged that several changes have been made in the district leadership without consulting party workers. The Union Minister was not available for comments on the fresh rounds of protest against him.
Reacting to the protests, party spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said,”The state party leadership will definitely look into this and take steps to address the party workers’ grievances.”
The Trinamool Congress, meanwhile, criticised the BJP for failing to control the growing infighting within the party. “I don’t know whether Subhas Sarkar is BJP’s blue-eyed boy. Earlier too, protests had taken place against him by a section of BJP workers. There are several allegations against him. Yet, no action is taken against him. The BJP is left embarrassed by this incident and they must do something to address the issue,” said senior TMC leader and state minister Sovandeb Chattopadhyay.
The ruling party also tweeted a video of the protest on X and posted: “@BJP4India finds itself teetering on the brink of chaos, with the cracks in the party’s organizational facade expanding into a seismic fault line. Today, @BJP4Bengal workers from Bankura took to the streets, igniting tires and unleashing fiery protests against Union Minister @Drsubhassarkar whose presence has become a flashpoint, repeatedly sparking outrage and dissent amongst his own party members. The party, which boasted of discipline, stands today as a textbook example of infighting and internal strife.”
Express News Service – 2023-09-23 20:48