Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Jagat Prakash Nadda constituted a five-member committee to probe into the violence against its workers during the Nabanna Abhijan.
The committee will consist of Brajlal, Rajya Sabha MP; Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, ex-Union Minister and Olympic medallist; Aparajita Sarangi, Bhubaneswar MP; Sunil Jakhar, ex-MP; and Sameer Oaron, Rajya Sabha MP.
The committee members will go to the sites of the incidents and collect the facts. It will submit its report to the national president soon.
The BJP’s mega march, Nabanna Abhiyan, on September 13 witnessed violent incidents throughout the state as clashes broke out between the party workers and Bengal police in several places. Police were seen using water cannons and tear gas on the workers.
In some places, there are also reports of police lathicharges on the party workers. Many party workers, including women members, suffered from police high-handedness.
“Bharatiya Janata Party expresses its deep concern and condemnation over violent incidents like the brutal beating of BJP karyakartas in West Bengal and demands the West Bengal government take strict action and establish a strong law and order against the culprits,” the party said in a statement.
The matter went to the Calcutta high court on Tuesday. A report was sought from the West Bengal home secretary over the BJP’s ‘Nabanna Abhijan’.
Kolkata police also received direction from the Calcutta high court not to detain anybody “illegally” and ensure no damage to public property.
Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee visited assistant commissioner of police Debjit Chatterjee at SSKM Hospital in Kolkata. Chatterjee is being treated for injuries suffered following an attack by alleged BJP workers during the march.
Praising the police, Banerjee said, “I salute all the officers of the police force for the manner in which they conducted themselves, for showing sheer patience, endurance and remaining within the ambit of the Constitution.”