BJP called for a 12-hour general strike in West Bengal on August 28 to protest against the police action on protestors
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) called for a 12-hour bandh in West Bengal on August 28 to protest against the police action on those who took part in the march to the state secretariat Nabbana on Tuesday. The saffron camp’s action came after the Kolkata Police used batons, tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd who proceeded to Nabanna.
In response to the BJP’s Bengal bandh call, the Trinamool Congress leaders slammed the saffron party saying that the party won’t sit silent and will hit back with full force. However, the BJP came out in support of its Bengal unit bandh call and stated that the protestors fighting against the Mamata Banerjee government’s oppression is an “ultimate symbol of defiance”.
Meanwhile, responding to the incident, ADG South Bengal Supratim Sarkar said that the police had input that the protestors will create a problem during the protests and that is why the action was taken against them. “As we were apprehending there might be trouble during the protests, we arrested four people who were conspiring. They had a gun with them.”
BJP Calls For ‘Bengal Bandh’, Demands Mamata’s Resignation
BJP called for a 12-hour strike in West Bengal on August 28 to protest against the police action. The party also demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the wake of the alleged rape and murder of a woman doctor in a state-run hospital earlier this month.
“We are forced to give the call for a general strike as this autocratic regime is turning a deaf ear to the voices of people, the demand for justice for the deceased doctor sister. Instead of justice, Mamata Banerjee’s police are turning on the peace-loving people of the state, who only wanted a safe and secure environment for women,” BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said.
Standing in support of the bandh call, BJP national president, JP Nadda took to X and wrote, “The images of police highhandedness from Kolkata have angered every person who values democratic principles. In Didi’s West Bengal, to help rapists and criminals is valued but it’s a crime to speak for women’s safety.”
The images of police highhandedness from Kolkata have angered every person who values democratic principles.In Didi’s West Bengal, to help rapists and criminals is valued but it’s a crime to speak for women’s safety.
— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) August 27, 2024
In addition to this, BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya shared a video of a man holding the national flag as the police used water canon to disperse the protestors. “The man, waving a national flag, on the iconic Howrah bridge, amidst blazing water cannon, is the ultimate symbol of defiance against an oppressive Mamata Banerjee regime,” Malviya wrote.
The man, waving a national flag, on the iconic Howrah bridge, amidst blazing water cannon, is the ultimate symbol of defiance against an oppressive Mamata Banerjee regime… pic.twitter.com/gSh6STk45s— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) August 27, 2024
BJP leader Locket Chatterjee also reacted saying, “End anarchy, end fascism. We all demand the end of TMC’s tyranny. With the Tiranga in hand amid blasting water cannons, this man is defining his steadfast determination to against the oppression of Mamata Banerjee. I stand by him, the people of the state stand by him and the entire country is standing by him.”
TMC Hits Back
Following BJP’s bandh call, TMC leader Mahua Moitra hit back at the saffron party and said, “Police gets bricks thrown at them by #WeDontNeedNoEducation ‘Chhatras’, SHO’s head split. Many policemen hurt. And BJP Bengal calls bandh to protest police ‘atrocities’. Same old playbook.”
Police gets bricks thrown at them by #WeDontNeedNoEducation “Chhatras”, SHO’s head split. Many policemen hurt. And @BJP4Bengal calls bandh to protest police “atrocities”. Same old playbook.— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) August 27, 2024
Another TMC leader Kunal Ghosh alleged that the BJP goons broke the barricades and attacked the Kolkata Police. “They are the ones who are calling the bandh for the deadlock. Fail this closure. Keep public life normal,” he said.
