'Goli maro' slogan in Kolkata raises hackles

The video surfaced on a day Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah addressed a rally in central Kolkata's Shahid Minar Maidan where he strongly defended the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).

The group of processionists shown in the short video clip was heard saying "'Desh ke Gaddaro Ko, Goli Maro s*** ko.'".

The inflammatory slogan was first chanted at a public rally addressed by Union Minister and BJP leader Anurag Thakur on January 27 in Delhi's Rithala area. Thakur had allegedly egged on his audience to respond to the slogan.

Thakur was then barred from campaigning by the Election Commission for 72 hours in the run-up to the February 8 Delhi Assembly polls.

Many of those who uploaded the clap gave the caption: "'Goli maro' slogan by BJP supporters going to @AmitShah rally at Shahid Minar in Kolkata today.(Sunday)".

Some local media houses have also uploaded the clip on their portal.

IANS, however, was not in a position to judge the authenticity of the video, which has also been posted on the streaming side Youtube.

The Left and the Congress sharply criticised the BJP for the slogan and demanded the Mamata Banerjee government take acestrong action" against those raising it.

"After the violence in Delhi, this slogan has now made its way to Kolkata. While no other party is being permitted to hold any meeting using microphones, an exception was made by the Mamata Banerjee government for Amit Shah.

"Now we find the BJP workers went to the extent of raising the agoli maro' slogan i the heart of the city. The state government must identify those raising the slogan and take punitive action," said Left Front legislature party leader and CPI-M lawmaker Sujon Chakraborty.

Congress MLA Manoj Chakraborty said: "BJP is leading the country towards doom, They are raising this slogan even in Kolkata. Mamata Banerjee must see to it these people are arrested and sent to jail."