Kolkata: Thousands of people took to the streets in West Bengal on Tuesday in a massive protest against the recent incident in Kolkata. The demonstration, which culminated in a march towards the state secretariat ‘Nabanna,’ was met with a severe police response, including lathi-charges and the use of water cannons to disperse the crowd. In retaliation, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has called for a 12-hour ‘Bengal Bandh’ on Wednesday, from 6 am to 6 pm, to protest the police action.
The Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government has made it clear that it will not permit the shutdown. The administration has urged the public to refrain from participating in the bandh, assuring that normal life will continue without disruption. Alapan Bandyopadhyay, Chief Advisor to the Chief Minister, stated, “The government will not allow any shutdown on Wednesday. We appeal to people not to participate in it.”
Bandyopadhyay confirmed that transport services would operate as usual, and that shops, markets, and other businesses have been asked to remain open. State government employees have also been instructed to report to work as normal. Meanwhile, the BJP has intensified its demands, calling for the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the immediate release of students arrested during the march to Nabanna.
BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar led a rally towards the police headquarters at Lalbazar, where they were eventually stopped by the police. Majumdar demanded the unconditional release of the students detained from various locations during Tuesday’s protest.
The BJP has accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of shielding those responsible for the rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata, likening her actions to those of a dictator. The party has called for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry, including a polygraph test for both Banerjee and Police Commissioner Vineet Goel. Goel had initially stated that the victim had committed suicide, a claim now strongly contested by the BJP.
BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia expressed deep concern over the situation in West Bengal, stating, “What is happening in West Bengal is worrisome. It is like tearing down the Constitution. Clearly, if there is any dictator in the country, it is Mamata Banerjee. She should resign from her post immediately so that the case can be investigated fairly.”
As Bengal braces for the impending bandh, the political standoff between the state government and the BJP shows no sign of easing, with both sides remaining steadfast in their positions.
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