West Bengal was also hot on Wednesday due to tension in places around the strike called by the BJP, police arrests and the ‘message’ of the Chief Minister to the opposition on the same day as the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad Foundation Day.
The BJP called for a 12-hour Bengali bandh on Wednesday over allegations of ‘police brutality’ in the Nabanna Abhiyan called by the ‘West Bengal Chhatra Samaj’ on Tuesday to protest the rape and murder of a young female doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.
The state government had informed on Tuesday that the administration will try to avoid any impact of the strike. A large contingent of police, RAF and combat forces were deployed to control the situation on Wednesday.
Around this strike, the news of unrest from Kolkata and different parts of the state came to light from Wednesday morning. BJP workers also clashed with Trinamool workers who opposed the strike. There was a clash with the police while blocking the railways and roads.
Several BJP leaders were arrested.
On this day again, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool All India Secretary Abhishek Banerjee gave several ‘messages’ from the Trinamool Student Council foundation day event. He raised questions about the hanging of convicts in incidents like rape.
As the Chief Minister spoke out against the strike, warned the opposition, supported the striking junior doctors’ movement and reminded them of their professional responsibilities.
He reminded that the Supreme Court had already told them to join the work. He did not take action against the junior doctors who were on strike in other states.
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On the other hand, the BJP has once again brought up the issue of Bangladesh while alleging that it is trying to spread anarchy in the state.
Mamata Banerjee said, “Some people think it is Bangladesh. I love Bangladesh because they speak like us. Their culture is our culture. But remember that Bangladesh is a separate state, India is a separate state.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has warned that if the BJP wants to create ‘turbulence’ in this state, it will affect other states as well.
Meanwhile, Abhishek Banerjee said in reference to Wednesday’s strike, “Today they (BJP) have not called a bandh to demand justice, but tomorrow they have called a bandh to release those who have been arrested for destroying government property. Don’t give in to temptation.”
Targeting the BJP, he said the people of Bengal have shown that the strike on Wednesday was ‘not successful’.
Incidentally, the agitating junior doctors also had a protest march in Kolkata on Wednesday.
Following the Chief Minister’s speech on Wednesday, the agitating junior doctors said that the strike will continue until all their demands are met, including justice for the slain doctor and safety of doctors at work.
image source,BJP WEST BENGAL/X
12 hour strike
BJP leaders and workers were on the road in Kolkata, its adjoining areas and districts since Wednesday morning. Pedestrians, car drivers and traders can be seen urging them with folded hands to make the strike ‘successful’.
In support of the strike, BJP workers could be seen gathering in places. Seen also to block railways and roads. Since morning, the BJP supporters have blockaded the railway at various stations in several districts, including North and South Branch of Sealdah, Murshidabad, Burdwan. There was a quarrel with the police when he went to hand them over.
Trinamool leaders and workers took to the streets with a counter-argue not to strike. It is alleged that there is a clash between BJP and Trinamool workers based on this.
Meanwhile, BJP leader Agnimitra Pal appealed to the people walking along the road in South Kolkata’s Bhavanipur area in the morning. Later he was also seen in Gariahat Chattar. The square was cordoned off by the police force.
When the police arrested him, BJP leader Agnimitra Pal said, “So many police today… where were you on the day of the RG Kar Hospital incident?”
BJP leader Rupa Ganguly was also seen in the same role in Gariahat area. When a team of women policemen tried to take her away, she told the press, “I saw six policemen today to stop a woman!” After some time he was also arrested by the police.
BJP councilor Sajal Ghosh was also arrested by the police.
Later Trinamool’s Kunal Ghosh and Atin Ghosh were seen taking to the streets. They claim that this strike in the state has already ‘failed’. Kunal Ghosh said, “We are not telling anyone anything. The people of Bengal have shown that the strike is not happening. Public life is like any other day.”
image source,BJP WEST BENGAL
Allegations of disturbance
During the strike, reports of clashes emerged from various parts of the state. A BJP worker was allegedly fired upon at Bhatpara in Barrackpore. The worker injured in this incident was first admitted to Bhatpara State General Hospital and later he was sent to a private hospital in Kolkata.
BJP workers alleged that some workers of his party were coming to meet Arjun Singh. Shots were fired at the car on the way.
Arjun Singh told the media, “The whole incident happened in front of the police. Six rounds are fired. There is still blood on the car.”
After this incident, clashes broke out between Trinamool and BJP supporters in Barrackpore.
BJP workers were allegedly beaten up in Nandigram. BJP leader Subhendu Adhikari visited the injured at the hospital.
Apart from this, reports of scattered disturbances from several districts including North and South 24 Parganas, Cooch Behar, East Medinipur, Burdwan came to light due to this strike.
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Foundation day of Trinamool Chhatra Parishad
Trinamool Chhatra Parishad foundation day program was also held at Mayo Road in Kolkata on Wednesday. Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee talked about several issues on the stage of this program.
The Chief Minister said, “I want to dedicate this day to those who have been oppressed in the society. Especially by RG my dear sister who was abused. In these few days there has been atrocities on children in Maharashtra. Atrocities took place in Rajasthan-Bihar-Manipur-Assam. Dedicating this day to all the victims and their families.”
He alleged that BJP does not want justice in the rape and murder of a young doctor at RG Kar Hospital. They are ‘making political conspiracies’.
Mamata Banerjee said, “BJP is trying to change the face of the real movement. Today has deliberately called a shutdown. I want their body. We want justice, punishment of the guilty.”
Regarding Tuesday’s Nabanna raid, he said, “I would say the police have been very restrained. He bled himself but did not hand over any body to the BJP.”
Both the Trinamool supremo and Abhishek Banerjee, however, raised questions about Tuesday’s Navanna campaign while standing at the Trinamool student council function. The Chief Minister sarcastically said, “Those who were in the procession are students? Or a parent.”
Warn the Center by taking the issue of Bangladesh
The Chief Minister alleged that the BJP is trying to carry out political conspiracies behind the protests. While talking about this, he brought up the topic of Bangladesh. He was seen bringing up the issue of Bangladesh on August 14. On that day the program of ‘occupation of the night’ was called.
Bringing that topic on Wednesday, he reminded that Bangladesh and India are two different countries.
Then Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a tone of warning, “Modi Babu is setting fire to your party? Remember that if Bengal is set on fire, Assam will not stop, nor will the North-East. Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa, Jharkhand will not stop either. And Delhi will not stop either. We will make your chair wobbly.”
The Chief Minister said that he is in favor of hanging the convicts in cases like rape. He appealed to bring a law to hang rape accused on fast track. About which the center did not say anything.
Mamata Banerjee said, “Next week, I will call a special session of the Assembly by telling the Speaker. Within 10 days, I will bring this bill ‘I want the rapist to be hanged’ and send it to the Governor.”
On the other hand, Abhishek Banerjee argued that the central government does not want to bring this law.
He said, “Those who are demanding the resignation of the Chief Minister by carrying out the Navanna Abhiyan, have demanded Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President JP Nadda to bring an anti-rape law in the country if they have the power. They do not have the power to bring this law. Because if this law comes, BJP people will be the first to go to jail.”
He also told the statistics of violence against women in BJP-ruled states.
He said, “If the central government does not bring this bill, then the MP of Delhi will introduce this law through a private member’s bill. Every Member of Parliament has the right to move a private member’s bill and pass it in the legislature as a bill to enact legislation.”
He warned Narendra Modi’s government and said, “I promised, I will take this movement to Delhi. You started it, I will finish it. How I protested for a hundred days of money.”
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What he said to the doctors on strike
Mamata Banerjee also spoke about the agitating junior doctors at the Trinamool event. He said, “When the junior doctors were agitating across the country, we did not take action against anyone. Because I thought their movement was right. They want justice for their friend. But an FIR was lodged against the doctors in Delhi.”
He reminded that the Supreme Court had asked the junior doctors on strike to return to work.
He said, “Many poor people have died without getting treatment. Where will they go? Many services are provided by you (junior doctors). I promise you, you protested but we did not take any action. No action will be taken. But this time slowly join the work. I don’t want to take any action.”
“If I file an FIR against someone, his life is over. Will not get passport, visa.”
In view of this statement of the Chief Minister, the agitating junior doctors said that this strike will not stop now.
They said, “This movement will continue until we get justice, until our demands are met. If you have to file an FIR, do it against the culprits.”
Meanwhile, Sandeep Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Hospital, has been suspended by the Indian Medical Association.