Following altercations between demonstrators and Kolkata Police at a “Nabanna Abhijan” event on August 27, state head of the Bharatiya Janata Party Sukanta Majumdar called for a Bengal bandh on Wednesday, August 28.
To demand the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for mishandling a case involving the rape and death of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, a “Nabanna Abhijan” or march to the secretariat was arranged.
Police used water cannons, tear gas and lathi charges to disperse the demonstrators as they overturned barricades. On the other hand, the ruling Trinamool Congress accused the BJP of being responsible for the protest’s violence and criticised it for not being peaceful.
In his response, JP Nadda, the national head of the BJP, focused on the brutality being used by the Kolkata police as the primary concern.
“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,” he said.
Tuesday, BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar participated in a demonstration outside the Kolkata police headquarters in Lalbazar, protesting the detention of students from the march to Nabanna.
Majumdar announced through a statement that he would call for a 12-hour Bengal Bandh on Wednesday. He also said, “The police and Mamata Banerjee have unleashed violence on the student agitation. They have lathi-charged, used tear gas and used water cannons on the democratic, peaceful protest… Our demand is simple: the students who have been arrested by the police should be released.”
The August 28 12-hour bandh is scheduled to start at 6 a.m. The administration of West Bengal had promised to make sure the strike would not have any negative effects on citizens.
Schools, colleges, government offices and banks are likely to stay open but may be disrupted due to the Bandh affecting traffic.
Essential services like medical care, drinking water, public transport, rail services, and electricity are also likely to function normally.
It has been stated that the BJP has urged business associations to maintain closed markets. The West Bengal government has, however, said that despite the opposition-called strike, everything will continue as usual and nothing will be formally shuttered.
