‘Control your party’: Angry Mamata Banerjee tells Rajnath Singh after Amit Shah’s Bengal rally

Though most parts of India are experiencing chilly January, but the political temperature is rising in West Bengal. Day after Amit Shah’s election rally in Nadia, there are reports that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had war of words over the violence after the rally. According to an NDTV report, Banerjee reportedly told Singh ‘to control his party.’ She also said that the BJP was trying to provoke trouble in Bengal. Both leaders were talking over the phone after BJP complained of widespread violence after Shah’s Rally. The telephonic conversation

The BJP alleged that buses in which party workers were returning from Shah's rally were ransacked and set on fire allegedly by Trinamool Congress activists. The Trinamool Congress, on the other hand, claimed that the BJP workers had attacked a local TMC party office in Kanthi and vandalised it. Irked, TMC supporters then retaliated and clashes broke out, they said. "When our supporters were returning from Amit Shah's rally they were attacked by TMC activists. This is a shame. We condemn it," BJP state president Dilip Ghosh said. As the situation spiralled out of control, the Rapid Action Force (RAF) was called in to control it. The Rapid Action Force is still deployed in the area.

Following the incident, Home Minister Rajnath Singh called West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and expressed serious concern over reports of violence near the venue of the rally of BJP president Amit Shah in East Midnapore today. He has asked the Chief Minister that those indulging in violence should be brought to book.

There are reports that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also likely to address a rally in Bengal on Saturday. Though, for security reasons, it is still not confirmed as to where will his chopper land. Today will also witness yet another rally by the BJP in the state. BJP's national executive committee member Mukul Roy and Bengal BJP general secretary Sayantan Basu will also participate in the rally today.