Declaring ‘Enough is Enough’, President Droupadi Murmu urges the nation to wake up, act, and end crimes against women. Referring to the rape and murder of a junior doctor in Kolkata on August 9, President Murmu expressed deep dismay and horror on the series of crimes happening against women.
Doctors Under West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front Stages Protest
Doctors under the banner of West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front also staged a protest rally from Kolkata’s Shyambazar to Esplanade in solidarity with Kolkata Trainee Doctor’s rape and murder.
BJP Workers Clash With Police, Vandalize Barriers
In Kolkata, West Bengal, BJP workers damaged police barriers on MG Road during the party’s protest and 12-hour ‘Bengal Bandh’ call.
BJP Leader Locket Chatterjee Detained
Police detained BJP leader Locket Chatterjee at Kolkata’s Bata Chowk after she joined the protest following the party’s call for a 12-hour ‘Bengal Bandh.’
Police detained BJP leader Locket Chatterjee at Kolkata’s Bata Chowk after she joined the protest following the party’s call for a 12-hour ‘Bengal Bandh.’
Calcutta HC Rejects Plea Opposing BJP’s 12-Hour Strike
The Calcutta High Court on Friday refused to hear a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that aimed to stop the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from holding a strike in West Bengal. The PIL questioned the legality of the strike, but the court dismissed it, stating it was not valid. This decision permits the BJP to go ahead with its planned strike in the state.
State Bus Drivers Use Helmets For Safety
All drivers of NBSTC buses in Uttar Dinajpur are found with helmets. One such driver reveals, “Today, because of bandh we are putting this helmet. The government has instructed us to do so keeping in mind various safety reasons.”
BJP Announces 12-hr Strike
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced a 12-hour strike in West Bengal on Wednesday, August 28, to protest against what they describe as “brutal” police action on “peaceful” protesters during the Nabanna Abhijan march to the state secretariat in Kolkata on Tuesday. The BJP has declared a Bangla bandh from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on August 28.
The protesters were trying to reach ‘Nabanna’ to demand West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s resignation over the alleged rape-murder of a doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9.
Violence and chaos broke out in Kolkata when a protest rally went off course. In response, Union Minister and West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumder called for a 12-hour bandh in the state.
JP Nadda Criticizes Kolkata Police As BJP Protests Over Nabanna Abhijan
BJP President JP Nadda criticized the Kolkata Police for their alleged harsh treatment of protesters, saying, “In Didi’s West Bengal, helping rapists and criminals is valued.”
On Tuesday, the Nabanna Abhijan was organized by an unregistered students’ group, Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj, and the Sangrami Joutha Mancha, an organization of state government employees who have been demanding their Dearness Allowance be equal to that of Central government employees.
The rally started from College Square in Kolkata with increased security around the West Bengal state secretariat, and protesters gathered in the Santragachi area in Howrah.
In response to the BJP’s call for a shutdown, senior Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh said, “From the start, we have claimed that the Chhatra Samaj-sponsored Nabanna Abhijan was supported by the BJP. This was evident in how troublemakers pretending to be student protesters caused major disruptions today. The BJP quickly called for a bandh to create more disturbances.”
Bangla Bandh Today Over Nabanna Abhijan Clashes: 10 Key Points
- Clashes broke out between police and protesters in Kolkata and neighboring Howrah on Tuesday as the protesters tried to get past barricades to march towards the West Bengal secretariat, ‘Nabanna’.
- The BJP called for a general strike on Wednesday, but the ruling Trinamool Congress criticized this decision, claiming it aimed to create chaos.
- Over 200 people were arrested in connection with the Nabanna Abhijan rally.
- Clashes occurred at MG Road, Hastings Road, Princep Ghat, Santragachi, and Howrah Maidan, injuring some protesters and 29 police officers.
- Kolkata Police used lathi charges, water cannons, and tear gas to disperse protesters who threw stones and tried to breach barricades blocking their way to the secretariat.
- Later, police used tear gas and lathi charges against BJP leaders and supporters who marched towards Kolkata Police headquarters Lalbazar, demanding the release of students arrested during the rally. The police action followed attempts by BJP supporters to break through barricades.
- JP Nadda criticized Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, saying the police actions in Kolkata have upset those who care about democracy. He accused Banerjee of staying silent about the crime against a woman and misleading her parents.