Kolkata, July 8 -- After pandemonium broke out during the Trinamool Congress's protest march over the rape and murder of a minor in Baruipur on Wednesday, party supremo Mamata Banerjee alleged that BJP men had attacked TMC workers despite the Calcutta High Court's order permitting the rally, and said her party would move the high court with a contempt petition against those she accused of violating its directions by failing to ensure the procession passed off peacefully.
The Trinamool claimed 41 workers were injured in the pandemonium and admitted to the state-run SSKM Hospital.
The rally, organised by the TMC's student and youth wings, began at Ballygunge Phari and culminated at Hazra Crossing. Tension erupted at multiple points as TMC and BJP supporters clashed.
The TMC supremo alleged that BJP supporters had gathered outside her Kalighat residence on motorcycles from around 6 am, intimidating her while police remained passive.
"They seized our hand mics despite court permission, but allowed BJP workers to create disturbances. Women, senior citizens and young workers were assaulted. I myself came out after hearing that our IT cell chairperson had been surrounded and attacked. I saw people bleeding," Banerjee said.
Addressing party workers virtually later in the evening, Banerjee reiterated that the rally had been organised with the High Court's approval after repeated route revisions and questioned why a court-permitted procession was not allowed to proceed peacefully. She appealed to the administration to remain impartial and uphold the rule of law.
She also attacked the dissident TMC leaders, asking them to either remain with the TMC or openly join the BJP instead of "staying in the middle of the river".
In a sharp political attack on the BJP, Banerjee alleged that "those who looted donations for the Ram Temple (in Ayodhya) are creating disturbance here in the name of Lord Ram."
In her video message, Banerjee accused the rebel TMC MLAs and MPs of acting at the behest of the BJP and alleged that their "betrayal" had emboldened the saffron party to intensify attacks on Trinamool Congress workers.
She alleged that people were being denied justice and accused the BJP of trying to disturb peace in the state.
"I am being kept under police watch as if I am under house arrest. Instead of maintaining law and order, they are watching who comes to my house," she claimed.
"No government can silence the voices of the people or snatch away their democratic rights through fear and torture. This government is relying on anti-social elements with police support," she alleged.
Banerjee claimed that within the past two months, several incidents of rape, torture and murder had taken place in different parts of the state and urged the authorities to "restore peace, uphold the rule of law and protect peaceful citizens."
Meanwhile, the TMC alleged that BJP supporters played loud DJ music, raised slogans, including "thief" and "Jai Shri Ram", and brought members of the transgender community to create disturbances along the route. The party also alleged that eggs were hurled at the procession, and several media people were caught in the chaos.
TMC workers were allegedly attacked during the clashes. IT Cell in-charge Upasana Chowdhury alleged that some male BJP workers heckled her and pulled her down from her motorcycle, while TMC youth leader Arindam Kanjilal alleged that he was brutally beaten by some BJP workers as police personnel "remained silent".
Earlier, TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee condemned the alleged attack on the rally, accusing BJP supporters of unleashing violence on peaceful protesters. He also came to the Kalighat Party office to help the injured.
Later, the party shared photos and videos of the alleged attackers on social media, asking, "Who are these people?" and "Under whose instructions are they operating?"
TMC leader Kunal Ghosh alleged that despite the Court's permission, the party was denied microphones while the BJP used loudspeakers along the route, asking, "Is this how the principal opposition is treated in a democracy?"
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.