The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has distanced itself from the hooliganism at the Anandabazar Patrika (ABP) office in Kolkata on September 1, with state spokesperson Debjit Sarkar asserting that BJP was not involved in the incident and that “wearing saffron could not be a political identity”. “I don’t know who all went there. Wearing saffron cannot be a political identity. If any particular person is identified, the party can comment on it. Our party does not condone attacks on any place. We don’t know who went there, but our party was not involved,” he said.
A group of saffron-clad men shouted slogans and painted the walls of the ABP office in Kolkata saffron on Tuesday, days after West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari had demanded an apology from the daily for describing the violence at Jadavpur University on July 19 and 20 as “gerua gundami” — or “saffron hooliganism”.
When Alt News examined the footage of the raid on the ABP office closely, we identified three men with direct BJP links leading the group. One, Pramod Dubey, was seen addressing the crowd. He is a BJP worker. The other, Suraj Verma, another BJP worker, was seen painting a pillar on the left side of the main gate, and the third, Ravi Gupta, the president of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) Uttar Howrah 1 Mandal, was also in the group.
See the graphics below:
Both Dubey and Verma’s social media profiles have ample proof of them being active BJP workers for years. In the following photo posted by Verma on Facebook on August 20. Dubey is tagged in it.
Pramod Dubey: BJP Worker from Howrah
Pramod Dubey was seen speaking to the gathering outside the ABP office on September 1.
On his Facebook page, he has photos with several BJP MPs and MLAs, including Sanjay Bhatia, Rakesh Singh, Kartik Maharaj, Rudranil Ghosh, Krishnendu Mukherjee and Sanjay Singh.
His Facebook and Instagram accounts contain multiple posts in which he addresses the public against the backdrop of BJP Uttar Howrah’s banner, speaking on a range of political issues.
Following the ABP incident, Dubey posted a video with the caption, “today we painted Anandabazar Patrika office”.
In another reel that he shared, Dubey responded to Alt News’s investigation into the incident at ABP office with communal slurs directed at its co-founder, Mohammad Zubair. Here, too, he is seen sitting in front of a BJP North Howrah banner.
Alt News found that in 2021, Dubey was reportedly shot at during a clash between BJP and TMC workers. On January 23, 2021, the official X account for BJP Howrah Sadar shared a post identifying Dubey as their party worker.
Suraj Verma: BJP Worker from Howrah
Another individual identified at the scene was Suraj Verma, who describes himself in his Facebook bio as a “BJP Youth Leader” from Howrah.
He was seen smearing saffron paint on a pillar at the ABP office.
He shared the video himself with the caption, “ABP Group still hasn’t apologised for its hurtful “SAFFRON TERROR” headline on the ABVP protest at Jadavpur University. Today, we painted ABP’s office walls SAFFRON…”
Verma’s social media profiles also contain photographs documenting his association with BJP leaders, including his photos with BJP MP Sanjay Bhatia and West Bengal PWD minister and Kulti MLA Dr Ajay Kumar Poddar. His Instagram timeline also has his photos where he is wearing a membership card issued by Anjani Putra Sena, a Hindutva outfit.
Ravi Gupta: BJYM Howrah North-1 President
Alt News also identified Ravi Gupta, president of BJYM Uttar Howrah Mandal 1, among the group present at the ABP office.
Gupta went live on Facebook from the site on September 1, recording the protest and the act of Suraj Verma painting the building’s pillars saffron.
On August 6, BJP Howrah Sadar on its official Facebook page shared a list of the names of BJYM office bearers from the district. Ravi Gupta is named as the president of Uttar Howrah 1 local committee.
Gupta’s social media profiles contain photographs with senior BJP figures, including West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari and the MLA from the Howrah Uttar constituency, Umesh Rai.
Taken together, these pieces of evidence confirm that the raid on the Anandabazar Patrika office at Prafulla Sarkar Street in Kolkata on September 1 was led by BJP workers.
