BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari sitting on a ‘dharna’ in a police station after the alleged attack (PTI)
NEW DELHI: The BJP on Sunday criticised the West Bengal Police following an alleged attack on the convoy of party leader and leader of opposition in the state assembly, Suvendu Adhikari.Also Read: Bengal LoP Suvendu Adhikari accuses TMC workers of attacking his convoy; sits on dharna at police station“Efforts were made to file a police report. This attack happened in the presence of the police, but no FIR was registered. If even the leader of the opposition is attacked, one can understand the situation,” senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said at a press conference in Delhi. Prasad, a former Union minister, recalled how a BJP delegation led by him nearly failed to enter West Bengal’s Sandeshkhali, where local strongman Shahjahan Sheikh — linked to the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) — had been accused of sexual assault by multiple women.“If my security personnel and the central forces had not been there, we would have been unable to enter the village,” he added.Adhikari, a former TMC leader who joined the BJP in December 2020 ahead of the West Bengal assembly polls in April–May 2021, alleged that his convoy was attacked by Trinamool Congress workers. The incident took place in Paschim Medinipur on Saturday night.“Tonight, around 8:20 pm, while I was returning from Purulia at Chandrakona Road in Paschim Medinipur district, I was viciously attacked by TMC goons. The police personnel were mute spectators. The TMC’s desperation is showing, resorting to thuggery because they can’t face the heat of the people’s rising anger,” he posted on X.Meanwhile, a state BJP leader said the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has requested a report on the incident from Adhikari’s office.“The MHA has sought a report regarding the attack. The LoP’s office is preparing a detailed report, which will soon be sent to them,” the leader told news agency PTI.The next West Bengal assembly elections are expected in April–May.