The state BJP has planned to organize a protest in Kolkata municipality on Monday. The BJP wants the program to be based on the party’s North and South Kolkata district organization, without bringing in workers or supporters from outside the city to protest the fake vaccine scandal. However, more emphasis is being laid on bringing in the youth and women wing workers of the party. According to BJP sources, the party’s state general secretary Sayantan Basu met leaders of the Kolkata Youth Front and Mahila Morcha last Wednesday, wherein the plans were on how to make the program bigger.
Dilip Ghosh, BJP state president, alleged that the TMC was trying to hush-up the connection between Debanjan Deb, the alleged mastermind of the dubious drive, and a section of TMC leaders and KMC bosses, and his party will organise the demonstration on Monday to expose this “nexus”.
Although the state has not announced a lockdown, strict restrictions remain in place. Local trains and metro rail have not been started. Gatherings of more than 50 people are also banned. BJP sources said that they were planning to organize a camp knowing that they face obstacles.
However, the Bengal BJP is stepping up the heat on the Trinamool Congress government over fake Covid vaccination camps, particularly after the health ministry sought a detailed report from the state.
On Saturday, the BJP workers took out protest rallies and staged demonstrations in Kalighat, Victoria Memorial, Birla Planetarium, Elgin Road, National Library, Alipore Zoological Garden, and Rabindra Sadan areas of the city. The party’s Yuva Morcha has planned another protest in front of the KMC headquarters today in the afternoon.
Moreover, amid the restrictions, there are barely any ways left for the BJP in Bengal to raise their voices, a party worker said. A BJP leader from Kolkata said, “We are not waiting for the permission to gather in the city, but we are planning to surround the municipality now.” The attitude of the state government will not allow the gathering even if local trains are resumed because the government does not want the BJP to mobilise, the leader added.
According to Kolkata police sources, the BJP has not sought permission for political activities. They may know about the BJP’s municipal campaign program through the internet. It said that the state government had issued guidelines on June 26 saying political rallies could not be held as the administration is apprehensive about the pandemic situation. As a result, today’s procession would not be allowed. If there is an illegal gathering, the police will take immediate action.
On being asked whether he would march if the police do not allow the procession, Vice-President Joy Prakash Majumder said, “The police will be quick to cover up the vaccine scandal. The administration cannot be silenced. Protests are going on even if there is no permission.”
According to BJP sources, a formal letter was sent to the police informing them of the program. And yet it is likely that the police would interfere.