West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya on Wednesday dismissed allegations by Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra that BJP workers threw eggs at her during a protest in Nadia district, instead alleging that the incidents stemmed from infighting within the ruling Trinamool Congress.
Responding to the allegations, Bhattacharya said, “This egg-throwing must stop, and the TMC leader who is sitting hidden at home needs to step out into the field. TMC is attacking TMC."
He also questioned how the police could identify those responsible for such acts. “How can the police identify those who have eggs in their pockets? There is no machine to detect this. Metal detectors don’t detect eggs, so let us bring in a new machine, because Bengal does not have such technology, and I’m not sure if the country has such a machine," he said.
Continuing his remarks, Bhattacharya suggested that the Trinamool Congress should determine who within its own ranks was behind the alleged incidents. “I don’t know whose pockets these TMC eggs are in. The TMC needs to find that out and check which leaders or workers have them. This egg-throwing must stop. It is ruining Bengal’s image," he added.
The BJP leader's comments came after Moitra alleged that BJP workers threw eggs at her and raised slogans during her visit to Palashi in Kaliganj, where she had gone to attend a Trinamool Congress meeting at the residence of party MLA Alifa Ahmed.
According to Moitra, a group of protesters assembled outside the venue, shouting “go back" slogans and calling her “chor" (thief), while allegedly hurling eggs. She later posted a video of the episode on social media, accusing BJP workers of organising the protest.
A senior district police officer said law enforcement personnel, along with central security forces, arrived at the scene and dispersed the protesters after holding discussions with them.
The latest confrontation follows another similar episode involving the TMC MP. On June 13, BJP Mahila Morcha workers had allegedly attempted to throw eggs at Moitra outside a court in Krishnanagar, where she had appeared in connection with a separate case.
Following that earlier incident, Moitra had said she would pursue legal remedies, warning that she would approach the police and, if required, move the High Court and the Supreme Court over the matter.
