Hooghly, 07 March (H.S.): A tense situation prevailed in Uttarpara of Hooghly district on Saturday during the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) “Parivartan Yatra”, as party workers and supporters of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) came face to face, leading to sloganeering and heightened tension in the area.

As per information, the incident took place near Dolatala in Uttarpara where the office of TMC councillor Tapas Mukhopadhyay is located. As the BJP’s Parivartan Yatra passed along GT Road, TMC workers standing along the roadside began raising slogans such as “Jai Bangla” and “Modi Hatao”. BJP supporters responded with “chor-chor” slogans, which further escalated the situation.

Eyewitnesses said TMC workers waved party flags while shouting slogans, while flowers were also thrown from a BJP vehicle during the exchange, briefly intensifying the atmosphere.

The police from Chandannagar Police Commissionerate rushed to the spot and, sensing tension, escorted the BJP procession through the area under tight security. The yatra then proceeded towards Serampore without further incident.

The Trinamool Congress, however, dismissed the event as a “show of strength with very few participants.” TMC councillor Tapas Mukhopadhyay took a swipe at the BJP, saying he welcomed the Parivartan Yatra as it indicated that the BJP wanted change in the Modi government. He claimed that only a handful of motorcycles and two or three vehicles were part of the procession and described it as a “flop show.”

Meanwhile, BJP workers alleged that the police had been obstructing the Parivartan Yatra in different parts of the state since its launch. In Naihati, BJP supporters accused the police of stopping a bike rally organised in support of the yatra, leading to scuffles between party workers and police personnel. Tension was also reported from the Ghoshpada area of Naihati during the incident.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey