Amid BJP-TMC tug-of-war, SIT to probe vandalism of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar statue

Kolkata witnessed wide-spread violence between TMC and BJP during Amit Shah's massive road show Tuesday. A bust of 19th century Bengali icon Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was vandalised during the violence.

PM Modi and Mamata Banerjee

New Delhi:  Two days after Bengali polymath Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar's statue was vandalized during Bharatiya Janta Party Chief Amit Shah's roadshow in West Bengal, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to probe those behind the damage. Blaming Mamata’s party for the vandalism of the statue, PM Modi on Thursday said that he would get a new statue made using a mixture of 5 metals, which will make it impossible for 'TMC goons' to vandalise it. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday claimed that the West Bengal Police, in connivance with the state government, was trying to wipe out evidence of the incident. Modi was addressing a poll rally in Mathurapur. Modi said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, "frustrated over her imminent defeat", has threatened to put him behind bars after the general elections. "TMC goons are spreading violence, and they vandalised the statue of Vidyasagar. The way the state government erased proof of the Narada and Sarada scams, in the same manner, it is trying to remove evidence in this incident," he said. CM Mamata Banerjee continued her no-holds barred attack against PM Narendra Modi saying the state “doesn’t need alms” from him to reconstruct Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar's statue. Kolkata witnessed wide-spread violence between TMC and BJP during Amit Shah's massive road show Tuesday. A bust of 19th century Bengali icon Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was vandalised during the violence. Addressing a rally here, the chief minister lashed out at the PM for promising to install his grand statue at the same spot in Kolkata. “He (PM) said he'll make Vidyasagar statue. Bengal has money to make the statue. Can he give back the 200 years old heritage? We've proof & you say that TMC has done. Bengal does not want any alms from Modi.”