KMC, Cops Remove TMC Signboard From Abhishek's Office Amidst Fight
Mr Banerjee, TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien and other leaders however accused the KMC team and the cops of heckling them during their action.
Kolkata: A fight broke out at Diamond Harbour Trinamul Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee's office in the city on Thursday when a team of Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) officials and Kolkata Police personnel raided the address and forcibly removed the party's billboard there amidst resistance.
Mr Banerjee, TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien and other leaders however accused the KMC team and the cops of heckling them during their action. The billboard, bearing the name of TMC, remained installed atop a multi-storeyed building housing Mr Banerjee's office at Camac Street.
In the afternoon, the KMC team including advertisement department officials and cops tried to enter the building following a complaint against the billboard. They were confronted by Mr Banerjee, Mr O'Brien and others who questioned the absence of date, signature, office seal and memo number in the order for removal.
An altercation unfolded between the two sides. It soon escalated to jostling and then a fight as Mr O'Brien and TMC workers including many women sat down on the stairs to stop the KMC officials and cops from going up. Meanwhile, Mr Banerjee drew the attention of the HC through his lawyers about the ongoing action.
He also alleged political vendetta by the BJP government, led by chief minister Suvendu Adhikari, against TMC and claimed, “Why shouldn't TMC be allowed to put up its signboard at its office? The police are acting like BJP servants. We already approached the HC. Our matter is likely to be heard on Friday.”