Senior BJP leader and former MP Dilip Ghosh has found himself at the center of a heated controversy after a video of him threatening women protesters in Kharagpur went viral. The incident has drawn sharp criticism from the ruling Trinamool Congress and fueled political tensions ahead of the upcoming state elections.
The altercation took place when Dilip Ghosh visited Ward No. 6 to inaugurate a newly constructed road. A group of local women confronted him, questioning his absence during his tenure as an MP and accusing him of taking credit for a project completed under the leadership of Trinamool councillor Pradip Sarkar. This line of questioning appeared to anger the BJP leader, who accused the protesters of being Trinamool supporters and responded in a combative manner.
“I have built it with my money, not your father’s money. Go and ask Pradip Sarkar about it,” Dilip Ghosh retorted when one woman asked about his contributions to the area. As the exchange intensified, Dilip Ghosh escalated his rhetoric further, saying, “I will bring up your fourteen generations. Don’t scream. I will choke you.” He also labeled the protesters as “Trinamool’s dogs.”
The situation quickly turned tense, leading to police intervention. A team from the Kharagpur Town police station arrived to manage the scene, but by then, the women had surrounded Dilip Ghosh’s car, reportedly attempting to hit it. This forced the BJP leader to hastily leave the area.
Following the incident, Dilip Ghosh defended his actions, claiming the protest was orchestrated by the Trinamool Congress. “These are opportunists barking for Rs 500 (referring to the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme for women). Those who bark, Dilip Ghosh will bring up their father,” he stated. He insisted that the road was constructed using funds from the MPLAD scheme sanctioned during his tenure and accused the Kharagpur municipality of stalling several projects he had funded.
In response, Trinamool councillor Pradip Sarkar condemned Dilip Ghosh’s statements, calling them disrespectful and unbecoming of a former MP. He questioned why Dilip Ghosh had chosen to inaugurate the road despite no longer holding office and demanded an apology for his remarks. Sarkar also warned that protests would follow Dilip Ghosh wherever he went in Kharagpur if he did not apologize.
With state elections approaching, the incident has provided fresh ammunition for political attacks, highlighting the ongoing power struggle between the BJP and Trinamool Congress in West Bengal.
