The capital city of West Bengal, Kolkata, was shaken by the massive ‘Nabanna Abhijaan’ rally on Tuesday, organized by the Chhatra Samaj. The rally aimed to march towards the state secretariat, known as Nabanna, demanding justice for the brutal rape and murder of a doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The protest, however, was met with a heavy police response, leading to clashes between protesters and security personnel.
The Kolkata Police had declared the rally ‘illegal’ and imposed a curfew in the area since Monday. Several reports have suggested that the Chhatra Samaj, the student body organizing the rally, is backed by the RSS and BJP, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s political rivals in the state. These reports also allege that the rally was orchestrated by the saffron right-wing groups to gain political favor in the state.
The Chhatra Samaj, along with the members of ‘Sangrami Joutha Mancha’, a group representing state government employees advocating for their Dearness Allowance (DA) to be aligned with that of Central government employees, are holding the rally. Despite allegations, Sayan Lahiri, a spokesperson for the Chhatra Samaj, insists that the rally is organized by an ‘apolitical platform’ with no connections to the BJP, RSS, or ABVP.
Media reports identify Prabir Das, a postgraduate student from Rabindra Bharati University; Subhankar Halder from Kalyani University; and Sayan Lahiri from Rabindra Mukta University as key organizers of the protest.
The protesting student bodies have put forward three demands:
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Justice for the RG Kar Hospital doctor who was raped and murdered
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Capital punishment for the culprit
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Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s resignation
On Tuesday, the protesters, who gathered at the Howrah Bridge and marched towards Nabanna, faced a forceful response from the police. Security personnel used tear gas, water cannons, and lathi charges to disperse the protesters who were seen breaking and dragging away police barricades erected at the Santragachi area en route to the Secretariat.
The ‘Nabanna Abhijaan’ rally highlights the growing anger and demand for justice in the wake of the brutal rape and murder case. The protesters’ demands for the Chief Minister’s resignation and capital punishment for the perpetrator reflect the depth of public outrage. The incident also raises concerns about the alleged political maneuvering surrounding the protest and the potential for further unrest in the state.
