"I am safe" says Amit Shah as TMC & BJP workers clash at his Kolkata road show

Earlier, Shah stood atop a decorated truck along with BJP's Kolkata north and Kolkata south candidates Rahul Sinha and Chandra Kumar Bose respectively and was seen waving at the crowds which had gathered on both sides of the road.

Police personnel look on near vehicles burnt by a mob during BJP President Amit Shahs election roadshow for the last phase of Lok Sabha polls, in Kolkata. PTI Photo

Kolkata:  Trinamool Congress (TMC) student activists clashed with workers of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during Amit Shah's roadshow this evening making the political atmosphere even more tempestuous ahead of polls. In a show of strength, BJP national President Amit Shah held a road show in the city in support of the party's candidates. The rally started at around 4:30 pm from Esplande area in central Kolkata to Swami Vivekananda's house in north Kolkata. Reports say stones were pelted at Amit Shah's convoy from a college hostel near Calcutta University on College street. BJP supporters surrounded the building and retaliated. Several motorcycles parked outside were vandalised and set ablaze. Shards of broken glass littered the lobby of the college where a bust of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, a noted philosopher and a key figure of Bengal Renaissance, was smashed to smithreens. Police personnel were seen trying to douse the fire with buckets filled with water. Contingents of Kolkata Police deployed for the roadshow swung into action and were seen chasing away the warring groups. Speaking to ABP News, Shah said he was safe and accused CM Mamata Banerjee of instigating violence and attacking BJP workers. "They tried to attack our workers. I can't understand what's happening in Bengal. Mamta Banerjee is trying to instigate violence. I am regretting the fact that the administration did not allow me to visit Vivekananda's family."

#WATCH: Visuals after clashes broke out at BJP President Amit Shah's roadshow in Kolkata. #WestBengal pic.twitter.com/laSeN2mGzn

— ANI (@ANI) May 14, 2019

Describing how the violence erupted Shah said "some people came out of college and flashed black flags. They started the violence and there was arsoning. The police didn't do anything to control the situation and just stood as mute spectators." The Trinamool Congress alleged that BJP president Amit Shah brought "outsiders" for his road show in Kolkata who were responsible for the violence in the city on Tuesday.

Desperate BJP goons from outside Bengal smash statue of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar inside the college.Violent mob of BJP ‘outsiders’ in presence of Pukeworthy Shah. How little you know about Bengal, its rich history, its culture. Bengal will never forgive for what you did today. https://t.co/WrFXP6bmJl

— Derek O'Brien | ডেরেক ও’ব্রায়েন (@derekobrienmp) May 14, 2019

TMC spokesperson Derek O' Brien wrote on Twitter, "Desperate BJP goons from outside Bengal smash statue of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar inside the college. Violent mob of BJP 'outsiders' in presence of Pukeworthy Shah. How little you know about Bengal, its rich history, its culture. Bengal will never forgive for what you did today. (sic)." Earlier, Shah stood atop a decorated truck along with BJP's Kolkata north and Kolkata south candidates Rahul Sinha and Chandra Kumar Bose respectively and was seen waving at the crowds which had gathered on both sides of the road. Tableaux highlighting the culture of various parts of the state and country were seen moving ahead of the convoy.

Latest #visuals from BJP President Amit Shah's roadshow in Kolkata, West Bengal. #LokSabhaElections2019 pic.twitter.com/OYUsT1mzXl

— ANI (@ANI) May 14, 2019

Waving party flags, BJP supporters were heard shouting slogans like 'Jai Shri Ram', 'Narendra Modi Zindabad' and 'Amit Shah Zindabad'. People dressed as Lord Ram and Lord Hanuman were also seen in the rally. BJP has emerged the closest contestant of the ruling TMC in the state, where polling will be held in nine parliamentary constituencies in the seventh and last phase of election on May 19. (With additional information from PTI)