BJP protests outside Mamata's residence against attack on Roopa Ganguly

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, accompanied by over a hundred party workers, on Monday unsuccessfully tried to march towards Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's residence to protest against Sunday's attack on party leader Rupa Ganguly allegedly by Trinamool Congress workers.

The police were present in strength at Hazra crossing in south Kolkata where BJP leaders, including former Bengal unit chief Rahul Sinha and present chief Dilip Ghosh, held a rally before attempting to march towards the chief minister's residence in the nearby Kalighat.

The police stopped the rally, also attended by Roopa Ganguly and Locket Chatterjee, at Asutosh Mukherjee Road.

"We came here to meet the chief minister and tell her about the continuing post-poll violences in the state. But the police stopped us... But I will advise them (police) that instead of stopping us they must go and stop the goons," the BJP state chief said.

He also said that the BJP would launch protest-demonstrations in districts if the state administration does not take "proper steps on post-poll violence".

Ghosh said the party was considering to boycott Mamata Banerjee's swearing-in ceremony on May 27 and observe it as "Kala Diwas" (black day).

"We may also call a bandh on that day," Ghosh said.

Actress-turned-politician Roopa Ganguly was heckled and her convoy attacked on Sunday allegedly by Trinamool Congress supporters near Diamond Harbour in South 24-Parganas district when she was returning from Ishwaripur village near Kakdwip after visiting a party worker.

An injured Roopa was admitted to a local hospital.

Image: BJP protest outside Mamata Banerjee's residence. Photograph: ANI_News/Twitter