On Wednesday, a confrontation erupted between members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in Kolkata during a protest organized by the TMC, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. This demonstration was in response to the alleged rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl in Baruipur, which led police to intervene and use batons to disperse the clashing factions.
Following the rally, an incident occurred outside Mamata’s residence where she was seen striking a TMC worker. Footage shared on social media appears to show the worker attempting to manage the crowd and clear a path for Mamata before the altercation took place. BJP MP Raju Bista posted the video on X, commenting, “Mamata Banerjee slapped a man during a TMC protest. The man was trying to control the crowd and make way for Mamata. But Mamata lost her cool and slapped her own party worker.”
The protest was permitted after the Calcutta High Court intervened on Tuesday, overturning a previous decision by Kolkata Police that had denied authorization for the event. The court stipulated conditions for the demonstration, including changing the endpoint from Lansdowne Market to Hazra Crossing to reduce disruption for the public. It also adjusted the protest timing from 3 PM to 6 PM to a new slot of 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM, forbade the use of loudspeakers, and mandated that only handheld microphones could be used.
The rally was organized by the youth wing of the TMC and commenced at Ballygunge Phari in southern Kolkata. The TMC reported that BJP members attempted to disrupt the procession on Hazra Road by chanting slogans labeling them as “thieves” and forming human barriers.
As tensions heightened, skirmishes broke out between the two sides, prompting police to step in with a mild baton charge to restore order.
The BJP accused the TMC of having no grounds to protest the Baruipur incident, alleging that the previous TMC government had protected individuals accused of crimes against women and downplayed the severity of such incidents. TMC leaders dismissed these claims, stating that 41 of their members had sustained injuries during the clashes and were admitted to SSKM Hospital.
In a press conference after the protest, Mamata claimed that TMC workers were assaulted by “BJP-backed anti-social elements” while police stood by. “I am deeply saddened by the horrific incident that took place against our party workers… They were assaulted and beaten in front of the police,” she remarked.
Mamata also pointed out that BJP supporters had been gathering in her vicinity since early morning, riding motorcycles in a way that she described as intimidating. “I did not object to this. However, when I saw our workers participating in a peaceful protest with the High Court’s permission and using only hand microphones, I became deeply concerned when they were attacked,” she stated.
Questioning the police’s response, she asked, “If the High Court had granted permission, why was it not allowed to proceed peacefully? Why were BJP supporters allowed to enter the procession?”
She expressed strong disapproval of the incidents, appealing to the citizens of Bengal to speak out against such actions peacefully. “I urge everyone to raise their voice in protest and resist such incidents peacefully,” she said.
Mamata also criticized law enforcement for their failure to protect TMC workers during the violence. “I stepped out of my residence after hearing about the attacks… The police did not come forward to rescue our workers. I strongly criticize what I consider the police’s passive and negligent role,” she remarked, urging the authorities to remain neutral and ensure the safety of women and the general public.
In a pointed remark towards dissenters within the party, Mamata suggested that those unwilling to support the TMC should openly join the BJP rather than harboring “divided loyalties.”
“No amount of pressure or intimidation can stop the TMC. The more oppression we face, the stronger we will emerge. I seek only the blessings and support of the people of Bengal,” she concluded.
