Kolkata, March 9 – Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused the BJP of trying to distribute leaflets promoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally in Kolkata at her protest site in Esplanade. She also claimed that this was being done through a third-party agency.
Following this, Chief Minister Banerjee ordered that those involved be apprehended immediately.
She asked state minister Shashi Panja to file an FIR (First Information Report) without delay. She also instructed everyone to keep a close watch on the surroundings.
It has been reported that one person has already been caught in the act of distributing the leaflets.
On the fourth day of the anti-SIR protest in Esplanade on Monday, the Chief Minister said, "I am warning everyone participating in the protest. The BJP is trying to distribute leaflets through external agencies. Catch them in the act and hand them over to the police. They have no right to participate in the events of other political parties."
She further stated, "The BJP is distributing leaflets near the protest stage. They should be apprehended. I am entrusting this responsibility to Shashi Panja to file an FIR against them. They have no right to be here. If they do anything wrong, they will be punished."
The Chief Minister criticized the BJP, calling it a "cowardly" party. "It's a party of cowards. People are not attending their rallies. They lack public support. They are here to distribute leaflets to Trinamool workers," said Banerjee.
However, the BJP has denied these allegations. At a press conference on Monday, party leader Rahul Singh said, "The BJP is not distributing any leaflets to the Trinamool. They are doing this and blaming the BJP. Those who came with placards also have their rights. What right does the Chief Minister have to sit here and block the road day after day?"
"Who gave permission? How did the police give permission? If the Chief Minister has the right to be here, then people also have the right to come here and present their demands, and also the right to distribute leaflets," he added.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Modi will be holding a public meeting at the Brigade Parade Ground next Saturday.