Ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s scheduled visit to West Bengal to participate in the 125th birth anniversary celebrations of Syama Prasad Mookerjee, a bust of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder was vandalised in Kolkata, police officials informed on Sunday, July 5.
The incident took place on Sukea Street in central Kolkata, with police officials stating that the lower part of the altar was found broken, IANS reported.
Notably, the bust was installed in the area in view of the birth anniversary celebrations of the Jana Sangh founder. It was all set to be inaugurated by state BJP leaders on Monday.
The name plaque had been installed on the altar and the work was completed by Saturday night. However, it was found to be damaged on Sunday morning, prompting police to initiate an investigation into the incident.
A senior Kolkata Police officer claimed that the incident might have taken place after midnight. The official added that police is examining the CCTV footage from the area to identify the miscreants.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has condemned the incident, with the Bharatiya Yuva Morcha lodging a complaint at Amherst Police Station regarding the incident.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah is all set to arrive in Kolkata for a brief visit on Monday. He is scheduled to take part in the birth anniversary celebrations of Syama Prasad Mookerjee.
The Suvendu Adhikari-led government in Bengal has declared July 6 as a state holiday to mark the occasion.
As per the BJP, Amit Shah is expected to arrive at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport at 3:50 p.m. on Monday and will go straight to Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s house in Bhowanipore of south Kolkata. After garlanding Syama Prasad’s statue, the Union Home Minister will reach Eco Park in New Town at 4:50 p.m. There, he will lay the foundation stone of Syama Prasad’s 125-foot statue.
He will be accompanied by Adhikari and BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya.
Later on, at 5:30 p.m., Amit Shah is scheduled to join the celebration of Syama Prasad’s birth anniversary at the Biswa Bangla Mela Prangan.