Kolkata: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has called for a 12-hour 'Bengal Bandh' on Wednesday, August 28, to protest against the police action on those who participated in the march to the state secretariat, Nabanna, on Tuesday.
The bandh, scheduled from 6 am to 6 pm, comes in response to what it describes as excessive police force used against protesters demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the alleged rape and murder of a woman doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar criticised both the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Left, accusing the TMC of oppressing students and alleging that the Left tacitly supported the government's stance by not participating in the protests.
Majumdar urged the public to observe the bandh in solidarity with the victim and to stand against what he described as the "politics of suppression" in Bengal.
“We are compelled to call for this bandh as the state’s autocratic regime ignores the public’s demand for justice for the deceased doctor. Instead of addressing the issue, Mamata Banerjee’s police are cracking down on peaceful protestors,” Majumdar said.
Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari condemned the police's response, describing it as "unthinkable oppression" and threatening to bring the state to a standstill. In response, the Bengal government has urged citizens to ignore the strike call, promising that all necessary measures will be taken to maintain normalcy.
“The government will not permit any bandh. We urge people to disregard it. All essential services and businesses will remain open,” said Alapan Bandopadhyay, Chief Advisor to Chief Minister Mamata. He emphasised that transport services, shops, and marketplaces will operate normally and encouraged government employees to report to work.
Responding to the BJP’s bandh call, senior Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh accused the BJP of exploiting the situation to create disturbances. “The Nabanna Abhijan was clearly backed by the BJP, which has used it to incite unrest,” Ghosh said, urging the public to thwart the BJP's plans.
The police resorted to lathicharge and used water cannons and tear gas to stop protesters as they were adamant about proceeding ahead towards the secretariat. A few incidents of stone-pelting were also reported. Some protesters targeted security personnel during the violent march.
