Home Minister Rajnath Singh and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had a “heated exchange” in a telephonic conversation after BJP chief Amit Shah’s rally at Kanthi in East Midnapore district of West Bengal on Tuesday.

Singh had called up Banerjee and expressed serious concern over reports of violence against people who participated in BJP President Amit Shah’s rally, officials said.

During the conversation over the phone, Rajnath Singh reportedly asked Mamata Banerjee to take action against those who indulged in the violence.

“The Home Minister called up the Chief Minister to express serious concern over the reports of large-scale violence and arson against people who participated in the rally of the BJP president in East Midnapore district, a home ministry official said.

Vehicles ferrying BJP workers were set on fire in clashes that broke out following Amit Shah’s rally, party sources said. Reports said three people have been injured though police have not confirmed this yet.

The BJP alleged that buses in which party workers were returning from Amit Shah’s rally were ransacked and set on fire allegedly by TMC activists.

The Trinamool Congress, on the other hand, claimed that BJP workers had attacked a local TMC party office in Kanthi and vandalised it.

BJP national secretary Rahul Sinha claimed that TMC activists had attacked BJP workers as the party was afraid after witnessing the massive rally in Kanthi.”It is unfortunate that everything happened in front of police. They were just mute spectators,” he alleged.

A huge police contingent has been rushed to the spot to control the situation. The district police claimed that they have received complaints from both sides and presently the situation is under control.

Senior TMC leader Suvendu Adhikari claimed that the BJP was trying to disturb peace and stability in the district.”BJP workers attacked our party offices and this led to retaliation by our workers. If our party office is attacked are we going to offer sweets?” he posed.

“Amit Shah is daydreaming. The BJP should first concentrate on defending its government at the Centre. The people of this country have already made up their mind to vote them out,” Adhikari said.

Shah, addressing the rally, launched a scathing attack on the TMC government and vowed to uproot it. He alleged that TMC supremo and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s paintings were bought by chit fund owners for crores of rupees.