The Kolkata Police on Monday, March 2, arrested three Bharatiya Janata Party workers for raising the incendiary ‘Goli Maro⦒ slogan on their way to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s rally in Kolkata.
“In Delhi, BJP leaders who raised provocative slogans have not been arrested, but I got three of the BJP workers arrested (on charges of raising ‘desh ke gaddaron ko…’ slogans in Kolkata) last night,” Kolkata CM, Mamata Banerjee was quoted byIndia Today.
The Bharatiya Janata Party workers on Sunday, March 1, raised the slogan on their way to Shahid Minar ground in Kolkata, where Union Home Minister Amit Shah was scheduled to address a rally. The group, carrying party flags, started raising the controversial slogan when they reached Esplanade a few hundred metres from Shahid Minar ground.
“Goli maaron sa***on ko” comes to Kolkata. BJP workers sloganeering on their way to Amit Shah’s rally today.@TheQuintVideo courtesy:@pooja_newspic.twitter.com/9BswyX9FVf
Shah arrived in Kolkata on Sunday for a day-long visit. There were a number of protests in the city from the Left Front and Congress, against Shah’s visit. The BJP workers raised the slogan at Esplanade, where the Left Front and ultra-left supporters had assembled to protest.
The opposition parties criticised the police for not taking any action, despite being present at the venue. They have also demanded the immediate arrest of the culprits.
“We know what damage the slogan has caused to Delhi. We will wait for the police to take action. If they don’t act we will move court,” Md Salim, CPI(M) politburo member was quoted byHindustan Times.
All it took was one visit of Amit Shah to spread the “Goli Maaro Saalon Ko” slogan in Kolkata.The followers of Godse might be impressed with “Goli” but Bengal is the land of Vivekananda, Kazi Nazrul Islam and Tagore.#GoBackAmitShahpic.twitter.com/x5n1RZSSEz
Since the Delhi Assembly elections, the BJP has been drawing flak for using the instigating slogan. Union Minister Anurag Thakur was also heard encouraging the crowd to raise the slogan.
Meanwhile, at the rally, Shah accused Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of “triggering riots” and “burning trains” to oppose the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), reportedNDTV.
“I want to ask Mamata didi — why are you hurting the interests of our refugees? You only care about infiltrators. Refugees are being misled and scared… Hindus who fled our neighbouring countries who were raped and threatened and killed… should they not get citizenship?”, Shah said at the rally.
