West Bengal Nabanna Abhiyan Highlights: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said police could have opened fire on “violent” BJP protesters during its march to the state secretariat, but the government exercised “maximum” restraint. Banerjee also alleged that the saffron party brought in goons armed with bombs in trains from outside the state to foment trouble during its ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the BJP on Wednesday alleged that the state has become “lawless” and “bankrupt” under the Mamata Banerjee-led government. The party also hit out at Banerjee for inflicting “police torture” on its members to suppress their voices. The Calcutta High Court asked the state’s Home Secretary to submit a report by September 19 on allegations that BJP supporters were prevented from attending the march to the State Secretariat in Howrah, as part of the party’s “Nabanna Abhiyan”.
On Tuesday morning, thousands of party workers were arrested or detained in several districts. Several BJP leaders, including Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, Locket Chatterjee, Taapshi Mondol and Dibankar Gharami were also among those detained. Police stopped BJP workers’ vehicles in many places such as Haldia and Nandigram. As per the BJP’s plan, rallies from three points will try to reach Nabanna, the state secretariat. Adhikari was set to lead a rally from Satraganchi, while party state chief Sukanta Majumdar is to lead one from Howrah Maidan. Former state BJP chief Dilip Ghosh will lead workers from College Street. The last time the state BJP carried out such a large-scale campaign was in 2020.
TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee today visited ACP Debjit Chatterjee who was attacked during the BJP protest march yesterday.
Our Hon'ble National General Secretary Shri @abhishekaitc met with @KolkataPolice officer Shri Debjit Chatterjee, who was BRUTALLY ATTACKED BY @BJP4Bengal GOONS yesterday.#ShameOnBJP for mercilessly attacking those who give their all to protect us! pic.twitter.com/Ot5nEd8YiM
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she had never stopped democratic protests but anti-social activity will not be tolerated in the name of politics in the state. Speaking on the backdrop of yesterday's BJP protest that ended in violence, she said the protest affected the Durga Puja market. Banerjee also said many police personnel were injured and people were harassed during the protest.
Yesterday, an ACP was grievously injured, several police personnel were also injured, Durga Puja market was disrupted, people were harassed & public properties were vandalised: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on BJP's 'Nabanna Chalo' march in Kolkata yesterday pic.twitter.com/FFUxP5WTI6
Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim on Wednesday visited BJP councillor Meena Devi Purohit at a hospital where she was admitted after suffering head injuries during the saffron party's march to West Bengal secretariat, Nabanna, a day earlier.
BJP's state unit president Sukanta Majumdar also visited her at the hospital here.
"She has suffered an injury on her head and I wished her speedy recovery," Hakim told reporters after visiting Purohit, a Kolkata Municipal Corporation councillor.
He also said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has enquired about the BJP councillor's health. (PTI)
TMC leader Mahua Moitra today asked whether Bengal should follow Uttar Pradesh's model and send bulldozers to raze homes of BJP workers who destroyed public property during yesterday's protest.
She tweeted: “What if Bengal used Bhogiji Ajay Bisht's model & sent bulldozers to homes of BJP workers who destroyed public property yesterday? Will BJP stand by own policy or get their chadds in a twist?” Ajay Bisht is the birth name of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
What if Bengal used Bhogiji Ajay Bisht’s model & sent bulldozers to homes of BJP workers who destroyed public property yesterday? Will BJP stand by own policy or get their chadds in a twist?
A day after violence erupted in West Bengal during BJP's protest march, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said police could have opened fire on violent BJP protesters, but govt exercised restraint during the clashes. She alleged that the saffron party brought in goons armed with bombs in trains from outside the state to foment trouble during its ‘Nabanna Abhijan' on Tuesday.
TMC workers are not "wearing bangles" and if one of them is attacked then two of BJP will be thrashed, West Bengal minister Udayan Guha said. Guha, the MLA of Dinhata in Cooch Behar district, made the comment at a party meeting in Sitalkuchi on Tuesday, soon after the BJP rallies in
Kolkata and Howrah turned violent.
"We are not wearing bangles. If my boys are attacked, we will not sit idle. They should remember that if they beat up one of us, we will hit back by thrashing two of them," said Guha, the North Bengal Development Minister.
The BJP said that such statements are quite expected from TMC leaders who speak the "language of lumpen". (PTI)
At least four people were arrested on Wednesday for allegedly assaulting a police officer and setting a police vehicle on fire in Kolkata during the BJP's rally, an official said.
The arrests were made during night-long raids in Beliaghata, Topsia and Bowbazar areas, he said.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Debajit Chattopadhyay was chased and assaulted with sticks by some people in the Bowbazar area during the BJP's 'March to Nabanna' rally on Tuesday.
A police vehicle was also torched near the Kolkata Police headquarters Lalbazar. (PTI)
The BJP on Wednesday alleged that West Bengal has become a "lawless" and "bankrupt" state under the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led government.
A day after BJP workers and police clashed after cops prevented them from marching towards the secretariat in the state capital during their protests, the party hit out at Banerjee for inflicting "police torture" on its members to suppress their voice.
The BJP had launched a protest march against the ruling Trinamool Congress' alleged corrupt practises.
Former Union minister and BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad slammed Banerjee, saying she speaks of saving democracy outside the state while crossing all limits to curb people's democratic and civil rights inside Bengal. (PTI)
After a lull that lasted more than a year, the BJP was back on the streets in West Bengal on Tuesday with “Nabanna Abhiyan (March to Secretariat)”, one of its biggest campaigns in recent times. Sources said the West Bengal BJP was upbeat about the 2024 Lok Sabha elections now that the party’s national leadership had once again turned its attention to the state. While recent raids by central investigative agencies and the summoning of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders in cases of alleged corruption have given an impression that the Centre is finally taking action against what the BJP calls the ruling party’s “violent and vindictive politics”, insiders said BJP office-bearers had been working consistently on the ground to strengthen the cadre, especially the young brigade. Read more.
"'Cholo Nabonno' has rattled the corrupt & power-drunk in West Bengal. Bengal has risen to reclaim its glory. Bengal has risen against anarchy, corruption & murder of democracy. No amount of muscle-flexing and state-sponsored violence will mute people’s voices," Union Min D Pradhan said.
'Cholo Nabonno' has rattled the corrupt & power-drunk in West Bengal. Bengal has risen to reclaim its glory. Bengal has risen against anarchy, corruption & murder of democracy. No amount of muscle-flexing and state-sponsored violence will mute people’s voices: Union Min D Pradhan pic.twitter.com/wbxsoHHrMW
After a lull that lasted more than a year, the BJP was back on the streets in West Bengal on Tuesday with “Nabanna Abhiyan (March to Secretariat)”, one of its biggest campaigns in recent times. Sources said the West Bengal BJP was upbeat about the 2024 Lok Sabha elections now that the party’s national leadership had once again turned its attention to the state.
While recent raids by central investigative agencies and the summoning of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders in cases of alleged corruption have given an impression that the Centre is finally taking action against what the BJP calls the ruling party’s “violent and vindictive politics”, insiders said BJP office-bearers had been working consistently on the ground to strengthen the cadre, especially the young brigade. Read more
BJP leaders such as Locket Chatterjee, Suvendu Adhikari detained during protest march towards Nabanna in West Bengal.
Meena Devi Purohit, BJP councillor of ward number 22, injured in clash between police and BJP workers.
The BJP supporters allegedly set a police vehicle on fire near Lalbazar.
Police lathicharged BJP workers in Santragachi, Howrah Maidan, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Rabindra Sarani and in front of Lalbazar police headquarters to disperse them. Both policemen and BJP workers reportedly sustained injuries.
BJP national vice president Dilip Ghosh said, "We have been peaceful while the police lathicharged, used water cannons and lobbed tear gas shells at the protesters. They also pelted stones. We are not here for fighting."
BJP state president Sukanto Majumder was detained by police at Howrah Maidan. While speaking to media, Majumder "The police are even targetting senior citizens who are in our rally. They are beating up our workers."
Kolkata Police use water cannons on protesters on Tuesday.
#NabannaAbhijan Live | The Howrah bridge, the Second Hoogly bridge and Esplanade were barricaded to prevent the BJP worker’s movement. Follow for the latest: https://t.co/AmPNqvMstt pic.twitter.com/ewpCR9jmYN
BJP workers, led by party state president Sukanta Majumder and national Vice President Dilip Ghosh, have commenced marches from Howrah Maidan and College Street. Workers who commenced from Santragachi clashed with police, with some even lobbing bricks at officials. In return, police officials have deployed water cannons.
Security personnel deployed on the NH 117, barricaded to stop BJP supporters from taking part in the party's 'Nabanna Abhiyan' (March to Secretariat), in Howrah district, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022. (PTI Photo/Swapan Mahapatra)
Is Bengal BJP on course for a comeback? Gloves off, party says mojo is back
After a lull that lasted more than a year, the BJP was back on the streets in West Bengal on Tuesday with “Nabanna Abhiyan (March to Secretariat)”, one of its biggest campaigns in recent times. Sources said the West Bengal BJP was upbeat about the 2024 Lok Sabha elections now that the party’s national leadership had once again turned its attention to the state.
While recent raids by central investigative agencies and the summoning of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders in cases of alleged corruption have given an impression that the Centre is finally taking action against what the BJP calls the ruling party’s “violent and vindictive politics”, insiders said BJP office-bearers had been working consistently on the ground to strengthen the cadre, especially the young brigade.
HC steps in after clashes erupt between BJP & police in Kolkata
SEVERAL BJP workers and police personnel were injured, and a police vehicle set on fire, in a face-off in Kolkata on Tuesday as a protest march by the main Opposition party in West Bengal against the ruling TMC turned violent in various parts of the city, prompting the Calcutta High Court to step in.
Following the clashes, the High Court asked the state’s Home Secretary to submit a report by September 19 on allegations that BJP supporters were prevented from attending the march to the State Secretariat in Howrah, as part of the party’s “Nabanna Abhiyan”. The court also ordered the state to ensure that no unnecessary arrest or detention is made in connection with the rally.
Ravik BhattacharyaRavik Bhattacharya works in the Indian Express bureau in Kolkata. He t... read more