Amit Shah today demanded a CBI inquiry into the death of a BJP worker in Kolkata.
Kolkata:
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has called for a CBI inquiry into the death of a BJP worker found hanging under mysterious circumstances in Kolkata this morning.
The death has become the latest flashpoint in Bengal, where the ruling Trinamool Congress and the BJP regularly accuse each other of violence and murders.
BJP youth wing member Arjun Chaurasia was found hanging in a deserted building near his house in North Kolkata. He was to lead a bike rally later today at one of the events organized to welcome Amit Shah. The BJP alleged that he was murdered by the ruling Trinamool Congress, which strongly denied it.
Amit Shah told reporters, “We will ensure that the culprits of the murder of BJP Yuva Morcha leader Arjun Chaurasia are punished. The Home Ministry is deeply concerned about this political violence and has sought a report from the West Bengal government.”
Leaders and workers of both the parties have been protesting outside Chaurasia’s house since morning, intensifying tension as Amit Shah is visiting the Bengal capital for the first time since the BJP lost the state elections last year.
“Arjun Chaurasia, 27, BJYM Mandal Vice President, North Kolkata, was brutally executed and hanged. This relentless killing of anti-political activists highlights the collapse of democracy in West Bengal. Last year’s massacre of 57 BJP workers. Was done. Humanity has been strangled. TMC!” – BJP’s Bengal unit said in a tweet.
The BJP said it was canceling all welcome programs of Amit Shah due to his death. The home minister reportedly asked his party to cancel the planned reception at the airport.
Amit Shah, who is on a two-day visit to Bengal, will visit Arjun Chaurasia’s house this afternoon.
Senior Bengal BJP leader Rahul Sinha said the man was killed on the orders of top Trinamool leaders because of Amit Shah’s visit. “Our worker Arjun Chaurasia was murdered in the same Trinamool style because Home Minister Amit Shah’s programs are going to take place today. Not only the lower level TMC leaders but also the top leadership are involved in this incident,” he said. ,
Mamata Banerjee’s party has denied the allegation. Trinamool MP Shantanu Sen said, “The allegations against us are baseless. Let the police investigate the matter.”
Atin Ghosh, a local Trinamool MLA, said the allegations were leveled by “outsiders from the BJP”. “How can you decide what has happened before the post-mortem? Why call only Amit Shah? Call the prime minister. BJP is making baseless allegations for political gains,” Ghosh said.