Hawkers burnt an effigy of Union Minister Babul Supriyo and set fire to a party office in Asansol on Wednesday protesting against authorities disallowing them from plying their business at Asansol railway station.
Hawkers burnt an effigy of Union Minister Babul Supriyo and set fire to a party office in Asansol on Wednesday protesting against authorities disallowing them from plying their business at Asansol railway station.
Police said about 70 hawkers shouting slogans against Supriyo took out a procession and set fire to the effigy of the Union Minister of State for Urban Development outside a BJP office in the town.
They burnt party flags and set fire to the party office by throwing the burning effigy at it. The hawkers had been disallowed from doing business at the station for the past several months. They claimed they had met the Union Minister, who represents Asansol in Lok Sabha, four days ago, but he had not given them any assurance.
The blaze at the party office, a temporary structure, was doused by a fire engine, which rushed to the spot and nobody was injured as the office was empty, police said. The situation was brought under control by the police.
Following the incident, BJP workers, under party district president Nirmal Karmakar launched a road blockade demanding the arrest of those involved in the incident.
Karmakar, when contacted, said none of the protesters were party workers but miscreants and that the party flags which were burnt were bought from the market. The blockade was withdrawn after the police promised to take steps within 48 hours.
Babul Supriyo, who has been under opposition fire for allegedly sharing bonhomie with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, said ruling Trinamool Congress had a hand in the incident and there was no involvement of BJP workers.
"This party (TMC) is doing petty politics by inciting the hawkers. That will not help them," he told a private TV channel.
He said while hawkers should be treated with compassion, illegal hawking cannot be allowed. "Passengers should not be discomforted by hawkers... One has to strike the right balance between allowing hawkers to operate and help passengers have a smooth travel."
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