Kolkata: Chaos erupted in South Kolkata on Wednesday afternoon as a protest rally led by Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee turned tumultuous. During the demonstration, which was held to protest the recent rape and murder of an eleven year old girl in Baruipur, the former Chief Minister was captured on camera slapping a party worker amid rising tensions.
The rally, which received permission from the Calcutta High Court, was scheduled to move from Ballygunge Phari to Hazra Crossing. However, the event was marred by confrontations shortly after it commenced. TMC supporters alleged that individuals backed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) infiltrated the rally, raising slogans of “chor, chor” (thief) and using loud music to disrupt the proceedings.
Tension escalated as both TMC and BJP factions held separate marches in the vicinity. Despite a heavy deployment of police personnel, the two groups clashed. Mamata Banerjee, who had stepped out of her Kalighat residence upon learning of the disturbance, found herself in the middle of a surging crowd. It was during this attempt to manage the unruly situation that the TMC supremo lost her temper and was seen slapping a man, reportedly a party worker, before striking several others on their backs.
Following the march, the TMC chief launched a scathing attack on the state administration and the police. “How can the police undermine a court order allowing a TMC rally?” she questioned while speaking to reporters. Banerjee alleged that the police permitted rival protesters to set up stages and microphones on the same route, leading to the disruption. She further claimed that BJP supporters snatched handheld microphones used by her party and assaulted TMC supporters, including women and senior citizens.
The BJP was quick to respond to the incident, with Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumder criticizing the former Chief Minister’s conduct. “This kind of behaviour is really unfortunate,” Majumder remarked, suggesting that the outburst reflected a lack of composure.
The incident has added fuel to the already volatile political climate in West Bengal. With both parties accusing each other of violating court orders and instigating violence, the situation remains under scrutiny. Mamata Banerjee has indicated that her party intends to move the court to file a contempt petition against the police for failing to maintain the sanctity of the permitted protest route.