Shortly before Prime Minister Modi was to speak at Brigade Parade Ground, people supporting the Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party got into a fight near Girish Park, in the middle of Kolkata. People with the government said a policeman and a BJP official were injured in the violence.
Trouble Near Girish Park Before the Meeting
The fight was about five kilometers from the meeting place, and started around thirty minutes before it was to begin. People who saw what happened said rocks were thrown and slogans shouted as people came together in the area, making things more tense in central Kolkata.
News from the area reported that rocks were thrown at homes – including the area where a government official lived – and many vehicles were damaged during the confusion, with people in the area saying there was sudden trouble on streets that are usually busy.
Different Stories from TMC and BJP People
BJP people who take part in activities said their parade was going quietly to the meeting while they were calling out for the prime minister, when they were attacked. A BJP supporter said marchers were hit with rocks for no reason, and also got bad language, as well as physical attacks.
TMC people who take part in activities denied those claims and said the BJP group started the fight. TMC supporters said the marchers used bad language and threw the first rocks, and said local homes and offices were aimed at during the fight.
What the Police Did and Security Actions
A large number of police quickly got to the place and broke up the groups to bring back order. Officers put up extra security checks and increased watching over nearby areas to stop the violence from spreading before the meeting.
People in charge stressed keeping law and order as most important during the prime minister’s visit. Senior officers were said to be watching what was happening across central Kolkata, and forces stayed ready at other important places where large crowds were expected.
Politics and How Much the Election Matters
The fight came on the day the BJP planned to finish its statewide Parivartan Yatra – a campaign push before the West Bengal Assembly elections. The meeting at Brigade Parade Ground was a very important moment as parties try to get people to support them and change the minds of people who have not decided.
Politics in West Bengal has for a long time been very strong during election times, with public meetings often being the place where trouble starts. People who study politics say such fights can change what people think in the area and affect how people who will vote see things as campaigns get to important times.
Meeting Plans and News About Developments
Even with the trouble, the prime minister’s plans included showing and laying the first stones for development projects worth more than Rs 18,000 crore. People with the government said these projects would be about the basics of the area and economic growth across the state.
People who were organizing the meeting expected a large number of people at the meeting, which the BJP sees as very important to its plans for the state. Security people tried to balance managing the crowds with making sure the news and political messages went on without more trouble.
Tension remains high in parts of Kolkata, but police said they would stay where people could see them to stop further trouble. With the meeting going on, people in charge and leaders of the area asked people to be calm and said violence was bad as the city finished the day of very important political activity.
