Ashim Basu, the Trinamool Congress councillor from Ward No 70 of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, barged into a Hindu ashram in Bhawanipore and evicted several visiting Hindu saints staying at the institution.
The incident took place at the Bholananda Giri Ashram at Bhawanipore in Kolkata.
The Sadhus had arrived from different places of West Bengal for a religious congregation, and alleged that the TMC councillor forced them to leave the Ashram, accusing them of visiting the place with political purposes. The saints said that he threatened to assault them, and also threatened to cut the power and water supply to the Ashram.
The Sadhus claimed that they were attacked by the TMC leader for spreading Hinduism in the area by holding religious events. A video of the incident shows Ashim Basu shouting at the saints, accusing them of visiting local houses, distributing leaflets and making videos.
The councillor himself posted the video on Facebook, in which he can be seen asking why the sadhus from outside the place were present at the Ashram. He said that unknown people visiting houses in the area is a case of concern, adding that they can be thieves dressed as sadhus.
He asked the saints where they were from and asked what they were doing in the Ashram in Bhawanipore. When the sadhus replied that they were there to spread Hindu messages, he disagreed, claiming they had no right to be in the Ashram, and asked them to leave.
He also said that the sadhus were carrying Android phones, accused them of making videos while visiting houses in the area, and alleged that they are part of a political propaganda. He also threatened to file a case against them with the police.
However, later talking to the media, the saints said that they are not part of any political party, and were visiting houses only for religious purposes.