Kolkata, July 5 -- A day ahead of Union Home minister Amit Shah's scheduled visit to West Bengal to participate in the 125th birth anniversary celebrations of Syama Prasad Mookerjee, a bust of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder was found vandalised on Sukea Street in central Kolkata, triggering tension in the area.

Police have arrested a youth, identified as Rupesh Hazra, in connection with the incident. He is being questioned to ascertain the motive behind the vandalism.

The ruling BJP condemned the incident, with the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha lodging a complaint at the Amherst Street Police Station. According to the police, the lower portion of the pedestal was found damaged, and it is suspected that the vandalism took place late on Saturday night. The bust had been installed in the area as part of the birth anniversary celebrations of Mookerjee. A commemorative plaque bearing his name had also been placed on the pedestal. The installation was scheduled to be inaugurated by senior BJP leaders on Monday.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to arrive in Kolkata for a brief visit on Monday. According to BJP sources, Shah is expected to land at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport at 3:50 p.m. and proceed directly to Syama Prasad Mookerjee's ancestral residence in Bhowanipore. After paying floral tributes to Mookerjee's statue, the Union Home Minister will travel to Eco Park in New Town at around 4:50 p.m. to lay the foundation stone of a proposed 125-foot statue of Mookerjee. The monument will be built within the 480-acre urban park, adding to its existing attractions.

At around 5:30 p.m., Shah is scheduled to attend the celebrations marking Mookerjee's birth anniversary at the Biswa Bangla Mela Prangan.

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya and several senior BJP leaders are expected to accompany him during Monday's events. The BJP-led state government has declared July 6 a state holiday to mark the occasion.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.