West Bengal: LoP Suvendu Adhikari stages dharna outside Raj Bhawan against post-poll violence

Kolkata: Leader of Opposition (LoP) Suvendu Adhikari, several BJP leaders and MLAs and leaders held a four-hour dharna in front of Raj Bhawan with post-poll violence victims on Sunday following Calcutta High Court's permission. Meanwhile, LoP, claiming Hindus have been prevented from voting in the last Lok Sabha and recently held bypoll, will launch a portal tomorrow where people who have failed to vote in Lok Sabha, Panchayat and bypolls will be able to register their names.

"Stopping a particular community from voting is a crime. Diamond Harbour, Falta, Baduria, and North Bengal's Dinhata and in many other places, Hindus are prevented from voting. It was seen in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, last Panchayat polls and even in bypolls. More than two lakh voters were stopped in bypolls. I will organize a movement against this," Adhikari said. At least 300 victims of post-poll violence, who are staying in the shelter of BJP today, joined the dharna today. Adhikari, senior leader Tathagata Ray, former BJP MP Arjun Singh, MLAs were present at the dharna.

The Calcutta High Court has allowed Leader of Opposition in West Bengal assembly Suvendu Adhikari to hold a peaceful dharna outside Raj Bhavan on July 14 for four hours. Adhikari had sought permission from the Calcutta High Court to hold the dharna with alleged post-poll violence outside Raj Bhawan, where Trinamool general secretary Abhishek Banerjee held a demonstration in October, 2023 demanding MGNREGA dues for the deprived people.


"I will start a portal tomorrow as a LoP. The people who have failed to vote will be able to register their names. Those who could not vote in previous Panchayat, 2024 Lok Sabha polls and bypolls can register and secrecy will be maintained. I am preparing for a big fight and mass movement. As a LoP, I am supposed to stand by people," he said.

Trinamool leader Kunal Ghosh said sarcastically, "The first complainant in the portal will be Dilip Ghosh who was uprooted from his Constituency and sent to fight in Durgapur. Second complainant will be Agnnimitra Paul who was sent to Medinipur to fight in Ghosh's place and was defeated by Ghosh followers."
Adhikari said July 21 will be observed as "Death of democracy diwas". The same day, Mamata Banerjeee and her party commemorate as "Martyr's Day" and a mega rally.

Adhikari promised to bring at least 100 voters, who could not vote in the recent bypoll, to the Raj Bhawan gates. Those who have been affected, Adhikari and BJP MLAs will visit those alleged post-poll victims at their homes on July 21.

"We are eager to give protection to the people of Bengal," Adhikari said.

Former BJP MP Arjun Singh also spoke about the atrocities on people and BJP workers in the post-poll scenario.

The BJP plans to raise issues and organize movements on price rise, electricity tariff, price of petrol and diesel raised by Mamata Banerjee government. "We appeal to all to hit the roads. There is a need for Nabanna Abhijaan and we will talk to my party on this," Adhikari said.

Adhikari has called mass movement urging all from every political party to join the movement. The CEO of West Bengal Ariz Aftab did not allow CAPF to function properly, Adhikari mentioned.

Trinamool leader Joy Prakash Majumdar said, "Even in the bypolls, BJP has failed to win. After that, adhikaari wants to observe July 21 as Martyrs Day as "Death of Democracy Day". People will not tolerate it."