BJP calls for 12-hr general strike
North News
New Delhi, August 27
The Kolkata Police on Tuesday resorted to lathi-charges, water cannons, and tear gas to disperse protestors who attempted to breach barricades at the Kolkata end of Howrah Bridge and near Santragachhi Railway Station on Kona Expressway. The agitators were marching towards the state secretariat, Nabanna, when the situation escalated, the news outlet The Hindu reported. At Santragachhi, the clash intensified as protestors hurled bricks at the police, resulting in injuries to several officers. In response, protestors claimed that the police action also led to injuries among several students, the news outlet said.
The fresh clashes broke out on GT Road in Howrah Maidan on Tuesday afternoon as protestors, marching towards the state secretariat as part of the ‘Nabanna Abhijaan,’ confronted the Kolkata police forces. The situation quickly escalated as police resorted to lathi-charge, water cannons, and tear gas to disperse the crowd, who retaliated by hurling stones and bricks. The protestors also attempted to topple barricades set up to block their way to the state secretariat, the news outlet The New Indian Express reported.
During the clashes, a policeman, who identified himself as the in-charge of Chanditala police station in the Howrah Police Commissionerate, sustained injuries. The unrest was not limited to Howrah Maidan, similar scenes unfolded in Hastings and MG Road, where protestors engaged in stone-pelting and police were seen chasing them away, the news outlet said.
Earlier in the day, tensions flared at multiple locations, including the Kolkata end of Howrah Bridge and near Santragachhi Railway Station on the Kona Expressway. Here too, protestors attempted to breach police barricades, leading to further clashes. In Santragachhi, several police officers were injured by bricks thrown by agitators, while protestors claimed that police action left several students injured, according to The New Indian Express.
The violence escalated as members of the student organization ‘Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj’ and the dissident state government employees’ platform ‘Sangrami Joutha Mancha’ joined forces to begin their ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ rally from various points across the city, according to media reports.
Meanwhile, the BJP called for a 12-hour general strike in West Bengal on August 28 to protest against the police action on those who took part in the march to state secretariat Nabbana on Tuesday.
“The images of police highhandedness from Kolkata have angered every person who values democratic principles. In Didi’s West Bengal, to help rapists and criminals is valued but it’s a crime to speak for women’s safety,” said BJP president J P Nadda.
Amid the ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ march in Kolkata, several women’s rights groups issued a joint statement calling for a swift investigation and action, demanding an end to sexual crimes and gender-based violence. The All India Dalit Mahila Adhikar Manch (AIDMAM), All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), All India Mahila Samskritik Sanghatan (AIMSS), All India Progressive Women’s Association (AIPWA), All India Feminist Alliance (ALIFA), and All India Lawyers’ Association for Justice (AILAJ) are among the 35 organizations that made the appeal.
Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury questioned the extensive security measures, saying, “I am not able to understand why excessive arrangements have been made to prevent the protest. Restrictions have been imposed at various locations. The opposition and ruling party should sit together to ensure that the protest takes place peacefully,” according to the Mint.
On the other hand, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has accused the protestors of conspiring to incite anarchy in West Bengal. TMC leader Kunal Ghosh condemned the actions of those involved, stating, “The protestors broke barricades and hurled stones at the police. Who were these individuals claiming to represent the Chattra Samaj? Their primary objective was to break through the barricades. How can such behavior be tolerated? Several policemen were injured. While CPIM showed restraint, goons backed by the BJP orchestrated this chaos in an attempt to destabilize West Bengal,” The Indian Express reported.
