BJP Bengal president Dilip Ghosh on Wednesday called the state a “second Kashmir” and claimed there were more terrorists in Bengal than in Kashmir.

“All terrorists are being arrested from Bengal. It is more than the number of terrorists arrested in Kashmir. All terrorists have taken shelter in Bengal. Arrests (of terrorists) were made twice from Murshidabad. Bengal has become second Kashmir,” said Ghosh while addressing BJP workers in Birbhum’s Suri.

Ghosh’s comment drew sharp reactions from Trinamul and CPM leaders who criticised the state BJP chief for referring to Bengal and Kashmir in the same breath.

“He spoke like Kangana Ranawat, who had in the past likened Mumbai to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. People had then asked her to leave Mumbai. I am also asking Dilip Ghosh to leave Bengal,” Trinamul MP Sougata Roy told reporters in Calcutta.

Urban development minister Firhad Hakim claimed that Ghosh was tarnishing the image of Bengal for petty vote-bank politics. “Terrorism has gripped their mind,” he added.

Leaders of the CPM and the Congress also condemned Ghosh equating the state to Kashmir.

Later, speaking at a rally in Murshidabad’s Kandi, Ghosh took on chief minister Mamata Banerjee for describing the BJP as bhogi (self-indulgent).

At a rally in Bankura on Wednesday, Mamata had attacked the BJP for being self-indulgent party, while she described the CPM as greedy (lobhi).

“The people of Bengal know who bhogi is and who tyagi (committed to sacrifice) is. The houses and cars owned by Trinamul leaders show whether they are bhogis or tyagis,” said Ghosh.

Hitting out at Trinamul leaders for their alleged corrupt lifestyle, Ghosh said those indulging in dishonesty would be thrown behind bars if the BJP came to power in Bengal.

“The process to grill Trinamul leaders will start from January. The letters have started to reach them. Many of them (Trinamul leaders) will be sent to jails in Behrampore, Dum Dum or in Odisha,” he added.

Trinamul-BJP clash

The rally of Dilip Ghosh in Suri was preceded by armed clashes between Trinamul and BJP supporters at Shimulia near Bolpur.

Sources said the first clash took place at Shimulia village when alleged Trinamul-backed goons tried to stop vehicles carrying BJP supporters heading for the rally in Suri.

A BJP worker was allegedly shot at and a Trinamul worker injured in the clash while a few vehicles hired by the BJP were damaged.

Police sources said six mini-trucks carrying BJP supporters were travelling towards Suri to attend the rally by Ghosh on Wednesday morning when a group of Trinamul-backed goons allegedly attacked them with iron rods and guns and ransacked the vehicles.

“The BJP claimed that their worker had been shot at but we found a small cut in the man’s chest. A Trinamul worker was beaten up by BJP supporters during the clash,” said a police officer.

Later, the clash spread to the adjoining village of Shimulia where supporters of both the parties clashed with crude bombs and fled when police arrived. The police had to fire tear gas shells to disperse the warring groups.

District police chief Shyam Singh said: “Police have started raids in the villages but no arrests have been made so far.” On Wednesday evening, BJP state leaders alleged that the convoy of Ghosh was attacked by Trinamul goons when it was passing by Purandarpur.

Ghosh was on his way to Behrampore from Kandi. According to a press statement issued by the BJP, the attack took place in front of police who apparently did not intervene to prevent the incident. Although Ghosh was unharmed, his car was damaged.

Additional reporting by Alamgir Hossain