The TMC on Sunday said the BJP was acting like a "terrorist organisation" and "importing goons" from other states to spread unrest in West Bengal, drawing a sharp retort from the saffron party, which accused the TMC of trying to "convert Bengal into Pakistan".
The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) also alleged that the BJP was spreading communal violence in the state as it was in a great hurry to capture power.
"We have been saying this since the Lok Sabha polls that the BJP is behaving like a terrorist organisation in Bengal. They are importing goons from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh to create unrest in the state," senior TMC minister and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim told reporters in Kolkata.
Referring to the recent clashes in the Bhatpara area of North 24 Parganas district, Hakim said Bengalis are being forced to leave the area. "We will not let the entire state turn into Bhatpara," he said.
The state BJP leadership was quick to hit back, asserting that the TMC was trying to "convert Bengal into Pakistan".
"The state administration is not at all willing to solve the crisis in Bhatpara. There is a complete lawless situation in the state. They want to convert it into Pakistan, where you are not allowed to chant 'Jai Shri Ram'," BJP state president Dilip Ghosh said.
also read
- Delhi: Abhishek Banerjee chairs meeting of TMC MPs to focus on Winter Session agenda
- RG Kar victim's parents meet West Bengal LoP Suvendu Adhikari in assembly
- TMC outlines agenda for Winter Session in working committee meeting
- West Bengal bypolls : TMC takes early leads in all six seats; BJP trailing in stronghold Madarihat
A TMC citadel for long, Bhatpara has been witnessing frequent post-poll violence between the rival parties.
The fighting has intensified ever since Arjun Singh crossed over from the TMC to the BJP and won the Barrackpore Lok Sabha seat under which Bhatpara falls.