Kolkata Police to constitute SIT to probe Vidyasagar statue vandalism

Two days after the bust of Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was vandalised, the Kolkata Police has decided to set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident. 

The development comes even as the Bharatiya Janata Party and Trinamool Congress are locked in bitter recrimination over its desecration as 'Bengali pride' overtook all other issues before the last phase of polling on May 19.

The 19th century icon of 'Bengal Renaissance' was suddenly pitchforked into public discourse during the cut and thrust of a gruelling election, with both the BJP and the Trinamool blaming each other for the act that many consider is nothing short of sacrilege in the state.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has rejected Prime Minister Narendra Modi's offer to install a new bust of the social reformer at the same spot where it was vandalised saying that Bengal has the money for it.     

She said that it were BJP "hooligans" who had destroyed a heritage of the state by breaking the bust in the the violence during BJP Amit Shah's roadshow.    

It is a matter of shame for Bengalis that the bust of Vidyasagar was vandalised, she said at a poll rally at Mandirbazar in support of Trinamool Lok Sabha candidate CM Jatua.    

"Bengal does not seek alms from BJP. We have the money for a new bust of Vidyasagar, who was part of Bengal Renaissance. Don't you (BJP) feel ashamed saying that Bengal has been reduced to a state of being a pauper".    

Banerjee was referring to a comment by Shah at a poll rally at Canning earlier this week in which he had said that under Banerjee government "sonar(golden) Bangla has become kangal(pauper) Bangla".    

The prime minister said at a poll rally at Mau in Uttar Pradesh that his government is committed towards Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar's vision and promised to install his grand statue made of "panch dhatu" (five metals) at the same spot where it was vandalised by "TMC goondas".