BJP party workers on Friday allegedly vandalised the West Bengal Pradesh Congress headquarters in Kolkata, intensifying the political storm triggered by a viral video where slogans abusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his late mother were raised during a Congress rally in Bihar's Darbhanga.
The protest, reprotedly led by BJP leader Rakesh Singh, saw party supporters storm the Congress office at Bidhan Bhavan, tearing down posters and banners, blackening images of Rahul Gandhi, and setting Congress flags on fire.
The Grand Old Party has filed a police complaint against Rakesh Singh and strongly condemned the attack. The party claimed that the BJP workers entered the premises while the office was still closed.
In a letter addressed to West Bengal BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya, state Congress president Suvankar Sarkar wrote, “This morning, the Congress office was not open. Like thieves and cowards, your party’s antisocial workers and leaders suddenly stormed Bidhan Bhavan, destroyed photographs of Congress leaders, and damaged party property.” He warned that if no action was taken, the situation could escalate. “If the BJP does not take action against Rakesh Singh, and the police fail to arrest him, we do not know to what extent the anger of Congress workers will erupt across the state,” Sarkar added.
Amidst the political tiff that has broken out between BJP and Congress over PM Modi abuse row, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, wrote on X, “Truth and non-violence prevail, untruth and violence cannot stand before them. Beat and break as much as you want — we will continue to protect the truth and the Constitution. Satyameva Jayate."
The incident in Kolkata followed earlier clashes between BJP and Congress workers in Patna, where tensions erupted during a BJP-led protest against the same video. The demonstration turned violent, with both sides reportedly attacking each other using party flags, and stone-pelting was also reported.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (Law and Order), Krishna Murari Prasad, confirmed the incident and said authorities were investigating.The man accused of making the remarks, identified as Mohammad Rizvi alias Raja from Bhapura village in Darbhanga’s Singhwara area, has since been arrested by the police.
Former Indian Youth Congress National Secretary Mohd Naushad also issued a statement distancing the party from the remarks. “We would never stoop to such cheap and disgraceful behaviour,” he said. “I condemn such remarks made against the Prime Minister, but it is possible this was done by the opposition or people with vested interests.”
However, taking a swipe at Congress, BJP MLA Nitin Nabin said the comments had insulted the people of Bihar and vowed retaliation. “Every son of Bihar will give a befitting reply to Congress for insulting a mother. We will take revenge for this,” he said.
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera denied that the party had any role in the remarks. “This remark has been made by their own agent,” Khera alleged. “They just want to create an issue so they can divert attention from our Yatra. Their theft has been caught, and now they’re frustrated.”
He further questioned the identity of the arrested individual, saying, “Find out who that person is, whose man he is. The public is watching everything, and the entire country is watching the BJP’s goondaism.”
