Violence Erupts in Kolkata During Nabanna Abhijan Protest Led by BJP
The streets of Kolkata, West Bengal, turned chaotic following a protest rally that went awry. Union Minister and West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumder called for a ’12-hour bandh’ in the state on Wednesday.
Protest Details
On Tuesday, the ‘Paschim Banga Chatra Samaj’ and other organizations organized a protest march to the West Bengal Secretariat ‘Nabanna’ to protest the recent rape and murder of a woman trainee doctor in Kolkata. The rally, named ‘Nabanna Abhiyan,’ began from College Square in Kolkata, with heightened security around the state secretariat. Protestors gathered at the Santragachi area in Howrah.
Police and Protestor Clashes
During the march, protestors clashed with police, climbing atop barricades and breaking them. The police used water cannons, lathi-charge, and tear gas to disperse the crowd. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) criticized the BJP, calling the protest a conspiracy and a ‘FATAL ATTACK on Bengal.’
BJP’s Response
BJP leaders expressed their anger over the situation. BJP National President JP Nadda condemned the police’s actions, while BJP leader Gaurav Bhatia accused TMC leader Mamata Banerjee of being a dictator. Sukanta Majumder demanded the release of detained students and called for a 12-hour bandh.
Government and Police Actions
West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose urged the state government not to use power against peaceful protesters. He criticized the use of disproportionate force by the police. Additional Commissioner of Police Kolkata, Supratim Sarkar, stated that the protest application was rejected due to insufficient details and lack of formal permission.
Background
The protest was sparked by the rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at Kolkata’s R G Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, which led to nationwide outrage and multiple protests demanding justice for the victim.
Doubts Revealed
Kolkata -: Kolkata is a big city in India, and it is the capital of the state of West Bengal.
Nabanna Abhijan -: Nabanna Abhijan is a protest march organized by the BJP to the state secretariat, Nabanna, in West Bengal.
BJP -: BJP stands for Bharatiya Janata Party, which is one of the major political parties in India.
Union Minister -: A Union Minister is a member of the central government in India who is in charge of a specific department or ministry.
Sukanta Majumder -: Sukanta Majumder is a leader of the BJP and a Union Minister in the Indian government.
bandh -: A bandh is a form of protest where people stop working and businesses close to show their disagreement with something.
lathi-charge -: Lathi-charge is when police use long sticks called lathis to control crowds during protests.
tear gas -: Tear gas is a chemical used by police to make people’s eyes water and make it hard to breathe, to control crowds.
TMC -: TMC stands for Trinamool Congress, which is another major political party in West Bengal, India.
West Bengal Governor -: The West Bengal Governor is the head of the state of West Bengal, appointed by the President of India.
CV Ananda Bose -: CV Ananda Bose is the current Governor of West Bengal, a state in India.
