Kolkata: The West Bengal BJP unit has called for a 12-hour strike in West Bengal on Wednesday, August 28, to protest police action against demonstrators at the ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ (March to Bengal Secretariat) event, a significant protest march condemning the rape and death of a junior doctor at R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital.
Sukanta Majumdar, West Bengal BJP president and Union Minister of State for Education and DoNER told a press conference here that police action against peaceful protestors must be denounced. Hence, the party has decided to hold a 12-hour strike.
“I call upon the people of the state to spontaneously support the strike in solidarity with the protesting students. I know that strikes create inconvenience for common people. But still, we request people to participate in the strike,” he said.
He further stated that the BJP’s state unit, in a show of unwavering commitment, has resolved to provide legal aid to individuals who face police action for participating in the protest march and medical aid to those hurt in police action.
He also stated that a helpline number, a lifeline for those in need, would be established for this purpose.
On the Kolkata side, there were further reports of skirmishes between police and protesters in Hastings, where officers used lathi-charge and tear gas to separate the crowd, a move that has been criticized by the BJP.
The state government, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, has condemned the strike, calling it a ‘political stunt’ by the BJP. On the Howrah side, a group of demonstrators arrived at Nabanna, the state secretariat in Mandirtala district. However, the police apprehended them at the last minute and dispersed them.
Earlier, riot police deployed tear gas and water cannons to disperse the throng in certain parts of Howrah district, notably the Howrah Bridge, where numerous demonstrators were spotted carrying the Tricolour and shouting slogans.
A circle inspector of the state police was severely hurt, allegedly as a result of demonstrators throwing stones at him.
Many women demonstrators leading the march outside the Police Training School (PTS) in Vidyasagar Setu were reportedly hurt as a result of police action, even as the agitators sat on the street shouting slogans.
Tension was also reported on Mahatma Gandhi Road in central Kolkata following fights between protesters and police, who used lathi charges and tear gas shells.
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–IANS
(Photo: IANS/Kuntal Chakrabarty)
