THE CONGRESS on Friday alleged that a group of “BJP supporters” vandalised its Bengal headquarters in Kolkata on Friday during a protest against recent remarks by party leader Rahul Gandhi on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the former’s ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ in Bihar.

The party claimed that the attack on its state headquarters – also known as Bidhan Bhawan – was led by one Rakesh Singh. Congress leaders claimed that BJP supporters ransacked the office and vandalised posters of their party leaders, including Rahul Gandhi.

The protesters even burnt tyres before the main gate of the party office and proclaimed that Congress would face “more such repercussions across India if it did not stop badmouthing BJP leaders”.

The Congress party’s state unit president Subhankar Sarkar demanded an explanation from his BJP counterpart Samik Bhattacharya for the “dastardly attack” and called the saffron party “uncivilised and barbaric”.

A police team reached the spot and arrested six persons. A police investigation has also been initiated on the basis of the allegations levelled by Congress leaders.

After the incident, Bengal Congress president Shuvankar Sarkar wrote to state BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya, saying, “I believe you are a gentleman… I believe that without your consent, such an incident couldn’t have happened… led by an anti-social element of your party, Rakesh Singh.”

He alleged, “Even after this incident, the BJP will not take any step against Rakesh Singh, nor will the police take steps…”

Later in the day, Sarkar led a protest rally of the party from its headquarters and blocked the city’s arterial Moulali Crossing, bringing rush hour traffic to its knees in and around Kolkata for about 30 minutes.

Former Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury also condemned the incident and said, “It is a planned incident. Rakesh Singh is an anti-social element. After political defeat, the BJP did this with the help of Rakesh Singh.”

“Around 50 BJP supporters gathered in front of Bidhan Bhawan on Friday. They were protesting against a recent statement of Rahul Gandhi on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Suddenly, they entered the office premises and started ransacking chairs, posters, and placards. When we tried to stop, they also beat us,” a Congress worker said.