The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced a 12-hour Bangla bandh (strike) across West Bengal on Wednesday, August 28, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The strike is in protest of what the party describes as “brutal” police action against “peaceful” demonstrators during the “Nabanna Abhijan” march to the state secretariat in Kolkata on Tuesday.
Protest Against CM Mamata Banerjee
The protestors were attempting to reach the state secretariat, ‘Nabanna,’ demanding the resignation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. This action follows the alleged rape and murder of a doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9.
Violence Erupts on Kolkata Streets
The situation escalated into chaos and violence as the protest rally took a dangerous turn. Union Minister and West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumder responded by calling for a statewide bandh. BJP National President JP Nadda criticized the Kolkata Police for their alleged heavy-handedness in handling the protestors, stating that in “Didi’s West Bengal, helping rapists and criminals is valued.”
Background of the Nabanna Abhijan
The Nabanna Abhijan was organized by the Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj, an unregistered students’ body, and the Sangrami Joutha Mancha, a joint platform of state government employees. These groups have been demanding that their dearness allowance (DA) be made equal to that of their Central government counterparts. The rally began from College Square in Kolkata under tight security, with protestors gathering at Santragachi in Howrah.
TMC Responds to BJP’s Strike Call
In response to the Bangla bandh, senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Kunal Ghosh accused the BJP of backing the Nabanna Abhijan and using it to incite violence. He claimed that the protest was far from peaceful, with “miscreants” disguised as students causing large-scale disturbances.
Key Points from the Nabanna Abhijan Clashes
- Clashes erupted between police and protestors across Kolkata and Howrah, as demonstrators attempted to breach barricades on their way to Nabanna.
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More than 200 individuals were arrested in connection with the rally.
- Violence was reported in several areas, including MG Road, Hastings Road, and near Princep Ghat, with injuries sustained by both protestors and police.
- The Kolkata Police resorted to lathi charges, water cannons, and tear gas to disperse the crowd after protestors threw stones and attempted to breach barricades.
- BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar fell ill after being exposed to tear gas during a march towards Kolkata Police headquarters at Lalbazar.
- JP Nadda criticized Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her silence on the alleged crime and the police’s actions during the rally.
Police and Government Responses
Senior Bengal Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya defended the police, praising them for their restraint and control in handling the protests despite provocations. The TMC denounced the BJP’s bandh as an attempt to create chaos in the state.
The situation remains tense as the bandh unfolds, with the BJP and TMC locked in a bitter confrontation over the events surrounding the Nabanna Abhijan.