Mamata Banerjee accuses BJP, police after clashes during TMC protest march

Kolkata: A protest march organised by the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress over the alleged rape and murder of a minor and other public issues ran into opposition from BJP workers, who raised slogans of "chor chor" and "Jai Shri Ram" while staging parallel rallies.

The procession was heavily secured by police, and Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel resorted to a lathi charge to prevent clashes between the two groups. Reacting to the incident, Mamata Banerjee alleged that there was complete "lawlessness" in West Bengal.

The Trinamool Congress leadership claimed that 41 party workers were injured and admitted to SSKM. However, there was no confirmation of this by the police.


Banerjee said her party workers were attacked by the BJP and claimed that the police did not take action, violating the Calcutta High Court's order, which she called "contempt of court".

"We will move the HC and file a contempt of court petition. The rally had received permission from the high court after the route was revised three times. The court had finally approved it. Once the high court permits a procession on a particular route, no other group should be allowed to create obstructions along that route," Banerjee pointed out.

"Please run the government peacefully. We condemn the BJP's atrocities against our people in today's rally. It is the duty of the police to keep a watch. Instead of providing protection to our people, we witnessed police raj. Police have become the BJP's party arm," Banerjee said.

"In the last two months, many women were raped and tortured," Banerjee claimed. "From around 6 am, loud DJ music was being played from Kalighat to Gariahat, in front of my house. Hundreds of BJP supporters on motorcycles, many without helmets, gathered outside my residence, trying to intimidate me."

"The protest march was intended to protest against violence against women and the growing insecurity faced by ordinary people, including hawkers, shopkeepers, mill workers and other sections of society," she said.

She said she deliberately chose not to participate as it would attract more crowds. "I received reports alleging that BJP-backed anti-social elements had been mobilised in advance with the support of the police," Banerjee said.

Banerjee questioned why BJP supporters were allowed to enter the procession and alleged that "women were assaulted and protesters were attacked with lathis, rods, bricks and other objects".

"If the administration fails to uphold the rule of law and any serious incident occurs, the responsibility will ultimately fall on the police," she said.

BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya said, "People's faith has been betrayed by the Trinamool Congress. Jungle Raj no more exists. The political culture has changed. Arrogance, pride and appeasement have no place in Bengal or in democracy."