TMC Vs BJP: Police Crackdown On RSS-Backed Protest (image-X/MahuaMoitra)
Following the rape-murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, violence erupted in Kolkata after a protest rally, which the TMC described as a “conspiracy,” was held in the region. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led a 12-hour-long Bandh, which came into action at 6 am today.
In response, the state government issued a directive to the public urging them not to observe the bandh and that regular operations will continue as usual. Around 5000 police personnel have been deployed across the state to quell any incident of violence. Government bus and train services have been affected in several places.
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What Happened On Tuesday?
The BJP-backed ‘Chhatra Samaj’s’ “Nabanna Abhijan” (state secretariat Nabanna) took place on Tuesday, which turned violent when protestors clashed with police. Nearly 200 people have reportedly been arrested in connection with the same.
Three unknown “student leaders” associated with the BJP but claimed to be non-political called for the march, reported The Wire. During a press conference on Monday, one of the organisers, Shubhankar Haldar, admitted he was affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the BJP’s ideological parent. Notably, Haldar reportedly himself has sexual harassment cases levelled against him.
The posters about the march stated ‘Chhatra Samaj’ had organised the event, but as per reports, there is not enough information about the body or the people behind it. The student protest, as it was officially organised to be, included people from different districts in the state, with many donning saffron tilaks and clothes. Several BJP leaders, including its state president Sukanta Majumdar, participated in the rally.
The opposition parties claimed that ‘Chhatra Samaj’ is a shadow organisation of the BJP. The protests turned violent after many attacked police officials. According to media reports, the attacks were led by RSS leaders with their faces covered. The saffron party’s Birbhum district president, Dhruba Saha, was also seen at College Street, stated The Wire.
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As violence erupted in the area between College Street and Sealdah, BJP protestors attacked Surendranath College and hurled stones with TMC workers retaliating.
TMC MP Mahua Moitra alleged that local BJP workers are “forcibly shutting” high schools to mark the strike called by the party.
Meanwhile, police responded with tear gas shells and fired water cannons to disperse protesters, demanding state chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s resignation.
Following the brutal rape-murder of the junior doctor on August 9, the Kolkata high court transferred the probe to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on August 13. The Supreme Court has pointed to a series of lapses by the Kolkata Police during its investigation.
