BJP blockades TMC MLA’s home in central Kol

Kolkata: BJP’s Entally candidate Priyanka Tibrewal on Thursday joined a large group of demonstrators in the Entally area to protest against rebel Trinamool MLA Sandipan Saha — who has been expelled from Trinamool — and his father Swarna Kamal Saha, accusing both of land grabbing and extortion.

Demonstrators brought two mules with photographs of Saha and his father pasted onto them. Tibrewal said the symbolic gesture was intended to highlight what she described as exploitation of common people by the two functionaries.

Saha and Ritabrata Banerjee approached the Additional CP (I) at Lalbazar seeking security. They met police officers on Thursday evening and discussed their security concerns.

The demonstrators staged the protest in front of Saha’s house, accusing him and his father, a former Trinamool MLA, of demanding “cut money” from the public.

“The common people are holding this protest. I have joined them. These are ordinary citizens who feel they have been cheated by Sandipan Saha and Swarna Kamal Saha,” said Tibrewal, who is also a Calcutta High Court lawyer. She alleged that attempts were being made to project Saha in a positive light over the past few days, despite public grievances against him.

“For the past two days, Saha has been trying to portray himself as a saint. People have come out on the streets to question that image and to express their resentment. They believe they have been looted and deceived,” the BJP functionary said.

Tibrewal added, “These donkeys that the public has brought are to show that there were two donkeys in Trinamool: Sandipan Saha and Swarna Kamal Saha. These donkey-like people have looted the public’s money. Now let them answer why they looted.”

Tibrewal alleged that the father-son duo had forcibly taken land from ordinary citizens and engaged in extortion. No immediate response from Saha or Trinamool was available regarding the allegations.

Tibrewal also commented on the ongoing political turmoil within Trinamool following a rebellion by a section of party legislators. Reacting to the emergence of a new bloc of MLAs backing expelled functionary Ritabrata Banerjee for the post of Leader of Opposition (LoP), she said, “This was bound to happen. When a party is formed by taking in thieves, this is what happens.”

While Saha did not speak, his father and former MLA Swarnakamal hit back at Tibrewal. “She is a rabble-rouser. What is she alleging? Anyone can allege anything against anyone; no one needs proof for it. I woke up this morning to see the demonstrations. I could have also called my people. She (Tibrewal) is uncouth. She lost the election to my son and missed out on the cabinet, which is why she is resorting to all this,” he said.