Mamata Banerjee blames the BJP and police after the Kolkata rally clash, as the TMC claims 41 workers were injured in the protest. The TMC-BJP clash at the Hazra rally has intensified political tensions, while Mamata has threatened legal action over alleged violations of the Calcutta High Court rally order.
TMC rally over Baruipur case turns violent in south Kolkata
A protest rally led by Trinamool Congress supremo and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee turned violent in south Kolkata after clashes broke out between TMC and BJP workers. The march was organised against the Suvendu Adhikari government over several issues, including the recent alleged gangrape and murder of a girl and the death of a key accused in a police encounter at Baruipur in South 24 Parganas. The rally began from Ballygunge Phari and was moving towards Hazra More when the situation became tense. According to the report, a group of BJP workers confronted TMC supporters and raised “Chor, Chor” slogans against them. Songs were also reportedly played through loudspeakers along parts of the rally route as workers of the rival parties clashed. Police and central security personnel later resorted to lathicharge to disperse the groups and bring the situation under control. The TMC claimed that 41 of its workers and supporters were injured in the violence.
Mamata blames BJP and accuses police of bias
Mamata Banerjee strongly blamed the BJP for allegedly attacking and disrupting the court-approved protest rally. She claimed that BJP workers entered the gathering, prevented TMC supporters from raising slogans and deliberately created disturbances along the procession route. Mamata, however, said she was not blaming the BJP alone and also held Kolkata Police and the administration responsible for failing to ensure the peaceful conduct of the rally. She accused some police personnel of behaving like BJP workers and questioned why the authorities had allegedly allowed BJP supporters to set up stages, tents, tyres and sound systems near the route. Mamata also claimed that TMC workers’ handheld microphones were confiscated even though their use had been permitted under the conditions laid down by the Calcutta High Court. She argued that her party had followed the court’s directions while the authorities had failed to properly enforce them.
TMC threatens contempt proceedings over alleged court order violation
Following the clashes, Mamata Banerjee threatened to move the Calcutta High Court and initiate contempt proceedings against those she believed had violated the directions issued while allowing the rally. She said that when police and the administration allegedly fail to follow judicial guidelines, it raises serious concerns about the rule of law and the neutrality of the authorities. According to her, the responsibility of the police was to protect peaceful participants and ensure that rival political groups did not obstruct the approved march. The TMC is expected to examine legal options over the alleged violations, while the confrontation has further intensified political tensions between the TMC and BJP in West Bengal.
The situation remained chaotic even after the rally. Outside Mamata Banerjee’s residence on Harish Chatterjee Street in Kalighat, a large crowd gathered around her, creating confusion and disorder. During the commotion, Mamata appeared to lose her temper and slap a TMC worker. The incident added another controversial moment to an already tense day of political confrontation. With the TMC alleging a planned BJP disruption, accusing the police administration of bias and threatening legal action over the alleged violation of High Court directions, the Kolkata rally clash is likely to remain a major political issue in West Bengal.
