KOLKATA: During the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) Foundation Day programme held on Cathedral Road in Kolkata on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee on Friday challenged CM Suvendu Adhikari to make CCTV footage of the Bhawanipur counting booth public and seek a recount, while also asking him to sing four stanzas ofVande Mataram alone.Speaking at the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) foundation day programme, Kalyan Banerjee said, “I have two challenges for Suvendu Adhikari. First, show the CCTV footage of the Bhawanipur counting booth to the public of Bengal and conduct a recounting…Second, sing four stanzas of Vande Mataram alone.”Earlier in the day, three FIRs were filed against TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien and two other party leaders, while 13 people were arrested following a scuffle at the party’s Camac Street office in Kolkata, police said on Friday.The cases were registered at Shakespeare Sarani police station over allegations of obstructing police personnel and Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) officials from carrying out their duties, assaulting officials and taking part in an unlawful assembly, a senior police officer said.Banerjee, O’Brien, TMC MLA Humayun Kabir and party leader Baiswanor Chattopadhyay have been named in the FIRs, police said.The confrontation took place on Thursday when private security guards at Banerjee’s office, along with his supporters and party leaders, allegedly tried to prevent police and KMC officials from entering the building and dismantling an “unauthorised” billboard.“One FIR was lodged based on a complaint by a KMC advertisement department official, while another was filed on the basis of a civic body requisition,” a Kolkata Police officer said.The third FIR was registered following a complaint by a sergeant, who alleged that unidentified people obstructed police personnel and snatched his government-issued walkie-talkie, the officer added.Kolkata Police Additional Commissioner (Detective Department) Kunal Agarwal said 13 people had been arrested in connection with the incident.“The police have so far arrested 13 people in connection with the incident. The matter is being examined,” Agarwal said.Investigators are examining CCTV and other video footage, along with statements from people present at the scene, to establish how the confrontation began and determine the roles of those named in the FIRs.The billboard, which carried TMC signage, had been installed on an iron structure facing the road on the top floor of the building. It was dismantled by KMC officials after police entered the premises.O’Brien alleged that police had barged into the office with an “illegal” notice and assaulted senior party leaders and heckled supporters and staff.The TMC also claimed that “the clothes of women security personnel were torn by the raiding team”.Banerjee, who was at the office during the incident, was seen having a heated exchange with officials. He described the civic body’s action as “political vendetta” and alleged that Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari was “fearful” of Mamata Banerjee’s party.
