Traffic affected as Cong supporters demonstrate near BJP headquarters

Congress workers on Thursday staged a demonstration outside the state BJP headquarters on Muralidhar Sen Lane to protest against the arrest of Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday.

Gandhi was arrested by Delhi police after he had gone to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital where the body of former Army personnel Ram Kishan Grewal was kept. The police did not allow Gandhi to get into the hospital and later arrested him.

Around 500 Congress workers shouted slogans against the Modi government and staged a sit in demonstration in front of the BJP office. Traffic movement along Central Avenue was affected for an hour. Congress workers also staged demonstration throughout the state. 

In Asansol, they staged a demonstration outside the BJP office and burnt the effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Demonstrations were also held in Malda, Murshidabad and Jalpaiguri.

West Bengal Pradesh Congress president Adhir Chowdhury said that the future course of action would be decided later. He said the party workers had been asked to maintain peace. He said the action of the police showed the dictatorial attitude of Modi government who did not want the real picture to come out. 

“Over the past few months, the government has kept the public in the dark over the attacks that are taking place in the Indo Pakistan border. The ministers are giving contradictory statements. Those who are criticising the role of Centre have been termed as anti-national. Under such a situation, the government should come out with a clear statement and should not conceal the facts.”