Amit Shah today called for a CBI investigation into the death of a BJP worker in Kolkata
Union Home Minister Amit Shah today called for a CBI investigation into the death of a BJP worker, who was found hanging in mysterious circumstances in Kolkata this morning, hours before his visit to the city. He also asked the Bengal government for a report.
Arjun Chowrasia, a member of the BJP's youth wing, was found hanging in an abandoned building near his home in north Kolkata. He was to lead a bike rally later today in one of the events planned for Amit Shah's welcome to Kolkata. The BJP alleged that he was murdered by the ruling Trinamool Congress, which strongly denied it.
"We will ensure that those behind murder of BJP Yuva Morcha leader Arjun Chowrasia are punished. The Home Ministry is extremely concerned about this political violence and has asked for a report from the West Bengal government," Amit Shah told reporters after meeting with Chowrasia's family.
"Yesterday the Trinamool government completed one year of its term. Today political murders have started in the state. BJP condemns the murder of Arjun Chowrasia. I met the grieving family, his grandmother was also beaten. BJP demands CBI inquiry into the incident," he added.
The death has become the latest flashpoint in Bengal, where Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress and the BJP routinely accuse each other of violence and killings. Leaders and workers of both parties protested for hours outside Chowrasia's home, ratcheting up tension as Amit Shah visited the Bengal capital for the first time since the BJP lost the state election last year.
"Arjun Chowrasia, 27, BJYM Mondal Vice-President, North Kolkata was brutally slaughtered and hanged. This continuous slaying of opponent political workers highlights the demise of democracy in West Bengal. 57 BJP workers were massacred in the last year. Humanity is smothered by the TMC!" - the BJP's Bengal unit had earlier said in a tweet.
The BJP cancelled all welcome events for Amit Shah because of the death, saying the Home Minister had asked the party to do so.
Senior Bengal BJP leader Rahul Sinha said the man was murdered on the orders of top Trinamool leaders because of the Amit Shah visit. "Our worker Arjun Chowrasia was murdered and hanged in the same Trinamool-style only because Home Minister Amit Shah's programmes are scheduled today. It's not only lower level TMC leaders who are involved in this incident but even the top leadership is involved," he said.
Mamata Banerjee's party denied the charge. "The allegations against us are baseless. Let the police investigate the matter," said Trinamool MP Santanu Sen.
Atin Ghosh, a local Trinamool MLA, said the allegations were by "BJP outsiders". "How can you decide what has happened before a post-mortem? Why call only Amit shah? Call the Prime Minister. The BJP is making unfounded allegations for political gains," Mr Ghosh said.