BJP’s march to CM Mamata Banerjee’s office in Kolkata was stopped by the police.
Dozens of BJP workers from Kolkata and Howrah started their way to Nabanna to protest the “worsening” of the law and order situation in the state.
- News18.com
- Last update: October 8, 2020 3:46 PM IST
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Various parts of Calcutta city and neighboring Howrah witnessed tense scenes on Thursday after clashes broke out between West Bengal police and BJP workers when Saffron party members attempted to break through barricades during their ‘Nabanna Chalo’ march towards the secretary of state. Dozens of BJP workers from Kolkata and Howrah began their demonstration towards Nabanna to protest the “worsening” of the law and order situation in the state.
BJP workers clashed with the police, blocking roads with burning tires, to protest against a litany of killings of their party workers while police used tear gas and water cannons. Skirmishes broke out in various places during the march led by the BJP’s youth wing, the Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM).
The police also charged the Howrah Bridge workers and BJP State Vice President Raju Banerjee and MP Jyotirmoy Singh Mahato were injured during the clashes. Arvind Menon, the national secretary of the BJP, was also injured. Police personnel in riot gear exploded tear gas projectiles, beat protesters and used water cannons to disperse protesters.
An unknown number of agitators were also detained. Police alleged that they recovered a loaded pistol from one of the protesters. He also claimed that BJP workers threw crude bombs at the police, a charge denied by the saffron party. It has not yet been determined whether the police officers were also injured. As tensions mounted, several stores and establishments were hastily closed.
The party launched the state rally ‘Nabanna Chalo’ on Thursday to protest the alleged murder of its party’s workers. About two lakh people are expected to take part in these protests despite public transport such as trains and buses operating with limited capacity. Each mandal was tasked with deploying 10 buses to take workers to the protest site.
West Bengal has witnessed a series of political killings in recent months, including those of BJP workers. In particular, a local BJP leader, Manish Shukla, was killed in Titagarh in Parganas 24 North district a few days ago, sparking protests in various parts of the state. Shulka’s death is believed to have triggered the protest Thursday.
Newly appointed BJP Yuva Morcha chief Tejasvi Surya, who was among the leaders leading the march, said tear gas and water cannons were fired at the rioters. “Such is fascism! Field bombs launched against our demonstration by TMC thugs from rooftops. Tear gas and water cannons fired against a peaceful march. The time of the tyrant is coming to an end. #NabannoCholo,” wrote Surya On twitter.
“We feel that the people of Bengal no longer want the Mamata Banerjee government. This is a mockery of democracy,” Surya told News18.
“The police are accusing our people … Throwing stones from the Khidirpur side. Can’t the police see that?” BJP leader Locket Chatterjee was quoted by the news agency AND ME.
BJP General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya accused Prime Minister Mamata Banerjee of trying to turn the party’s rally into a violent protest. “We are protesting democratically, but Mamata Ji has tried to turn our peaceful demonstration into a violent protest. The thugs together with the police threw stones at us,” Vijayvargiya was quoted as saying.
Four mass demonstrations, two each from Kolkata and Howrah, marched towards Nabanna in Shibpur in Howrah district, BJP sources told the news agency. PTI. Meanwhile, the ruling Trinamool congressional government in the state on Wednesday rejected permission for the event, citing the Anti-Pandemic Law, saying that democratic demonstrations will be allowed within “allowed parameters” of just 100 participants. Earlier, the state government also announced that Nabanna will be closed for two days starting October 8 for “sanitation” work.
(With PTI inputs)
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