Kolkata: BJP holds rally of intellectuals to counter similar show by Trinamool Congress

Keeping the heat on the Trinamool Congress, the BJP on Tuesday organised a rally of intellectuals in the city to counter a similar show organised by TMC last week.

The rally, attended by pro-BJP intellectuals such as actors George Baker and Joy Banerjee, magician PC Sorcar and Nimu Bhowmick, led by veteran journalist MJ Akbar, was held to express support for the CBI probe into the Saradha scam. The well-attended rally started from College Square ending at Esplande.

"Today, this huge rally demonstrates the anger of the masses against the state government on the issues of scams, corruption, unemployment," Akbar said addressing the rally.

Tuesday's intellectual rally followed Sunday's big rally, which was addressed by BJP national president Amit Shah. Last week, the ruling party had organised a rally of pro-Trinamool Congress artistes from film and stage to protest against alleged attacks on the culture of Bengal and the attempt to project the state in a bad light.