Escaped safely only because CRPF was there: Amit Shah on Kolkata violence

A day after his mega road show in Kolkata was marred by violence, BJP president Amit Shah held Mamata Banerjee accountable for it, asserting that he wouldn't have been able to escape if CRPF was not deployed in the area. Shah alleged that West Bengal Police was "a mute spectator to the violence unleashed by TMC goons".

"It would have been almost impossible for me to escape from there if CRPF personnel wouldn't' have been there. TMC can go up to any extent. It is by luck that I managed to get out of there," Amit Shah said at a press conference on Wednesday.

He accused Election Commission of being biased in favour of TMC and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

"Election Commission is just a silent spectator, it should intervene. In West-Bengal history-sheeters are allowed to roam free at the time of elections by taking a bond, which is contrary to the practice elsewhere. I appeal Election Commission to at-least ensure a free and fair election in the last phase in West Bengal," said Shah.

He claimed that Banerjee has issued open threats to BJP leaders from the election rallies but the poll body never took cognizance of such matters.

The BJP president said that TMC members vandalised the bust of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar for political gains and blamed his party for it.

"We were outside and the gates of the college (Vidyasagar College) were locked. The gate is not broken because TMC goons were inside hurling stones and petrol bombs at us. Moreover, the statue of Vidyasagar was locked inside the college room and still vandalised. The administration is of the Mamata Banerjee government. Statue was vandalised by TMC for political gains," he said.

Shah charged Banerjee and her party for poll violence in all the 6 phases of national elections.

"Mamata Banerjee blames BJP for the violence, I want to tell that she is fighting on only 42 seats while BJP is contesting in various states across the nation. We are contesting against several regional players and Congress and nowhere any violence took place except in West Bengal. This proves that Mamata Banerjee and TMC is responsible for the violence," he said

Clashes broke out on Tuesday during Amit Shah's mega road show in Kolkata resulting after sticks were hurled at his convoy and police resorted to baton-charge to disperse the crowd.

Nine seats are all set to go for polls in West Bengal in the last round of Lok Sabha polls in May 19. The results will be announced on May 23.