Suvendu Adhikari with accused trio (x.com/Sourav_3294)
NEW DELHI: BJP leader and West Bengal’s leader of the opposition Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday ‘felicitated’ the three men arrested for allegedly assaulting two chicken patty vendors at a Gita recital event in Kolkata, shortly after they were released on bail.Also Read | West Bengal: 2 men assaulted for selling chicken puffs to Gita recital attendees; political row erupts Adhikari, once a close aide of chief minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee, posted photos of the event on Facebook. “I want to tell Mamata Banerjee that you cannot suppress ‘sanatanis’ by unleashing your loyalist police on them. The fight to protect religion will continue, and in this fight, I stand with every Hindu, along with countless supporters of Hindutva,” the Nandigram MLA wrote.Later, speaking to reporters, Adhikari remarked that “the voice of justice still prevails silently in India.” Referring to Banerjee’s earlier comments on the controversy, he alleged that the chief minister had “arrogantly” claimed credit for the arrests.Also Read | ‘This is Bengal, not UP’: Mamata slams assault on patty-sellers “Who is she to decide arrests?” he asked. He emphasised that while he is a legislator, leader of the opposition and BJP member, his identity as a Hindu comes first. “If my Hindu brothers and sisters are in trouble, my primary duty is to protect my dharma. That is what the Gita has taught me,” he asserted. Adhikari also took credit for the trio’s release, noting that he had sent his legal team to the Maidan police station—where the case was registered—and coordinated with several lawyers who worked together to secure their bail. The three were released by the Bankshall court on personal bonds of Rs 1,000 each.The vendors had complained that a group of youths assaulted them for selling non-vegetarian food at the religious event and forced them to do sit-ups while holding their ears. Police intervened after a purported video of the incident went viral on social media.(With PTI inputs)