BJP activists clash with police over delay in construction of Majerhat bridge, Mamata hits back

alleged delay in construction of new Majerhat bridge in city Thursday swballed into a political war after opposition BJP clashed with police when it took out a rally over issue. ruling TMC accused Indian railways of delaying required permission.

BJP workers clashed with police on Thursday afteron after y were stopped short of under-construction Majerhat Bridge in southwestern part of city where y were scheduled to st a protest against alleged delay in completing it.

police erected barricades at nearby Taratala More to prevent saffron party cadre from marching towards construction site, following which BJP activists pelted law enforcers with stones. police resorted to lathi-charge to disperse crowd, a police officer said adding several members of saffron party were detained.

" BJP activists did t have requisite permission to take out rally. So we stopped m. y resorted to violence," a senior police officer said.

situation took an ugly turn when BJP national general secretary and Bengal minder Kailash Vijayvargiya was shoved inside a bus which was being used to take detained BJP activists to Lalbazar central lockup. police later requested Vijayvargiya to alight from bus, but he insisted that he would do so only if his party activists were also released. Hee and BJP activists were later released.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, without naming Vijayvargiya accused him of trying to "fake" his arrest despite t being detained by police. "y (BJP) did t have proper permission and so police stopped m. police did t arrest him (Vijayvargiya) but he is faking his arrest for photo ops. This is standard (of BJP)," she said.

She also criticised saffron party for allegedly "lying" about delay in construction of Majerhat Bridge and blamed Indian Railways for nine-month delay. About half bridge stands over railway tracks. " party (BJP) has turned into a circus party and garb of lies. y delayed and are w blaming us. We are on verge of completing it in a record time," she said.

Countering BJP's agitation over bridge, ruling TMC led by state minister and TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee Thursday took out a procession. It claimed that saffron party was resorting to "cheap drama" to get publicity. Majerhat Bridge, a portion of which collapsed on September 4, 2018, killing two persons, was demolished and a new cable-stayed bridge is being constructed. It is expected to be thrown open to public early next month.