A video of an elderly man, believed to be a Hindu monk, defying Kolkata Police water cannons during a 12-hour Bengal bandh called by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has gone viral on social media. The incident occurred during a protest rally organized by the Paschim Banga Chatra Samaj and other organizations on Tuesday, demanding justice for the rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee postgraduate doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital earlier this month.
The video, widely shared on X (formerly Twitter), shows the elderly man, identified as 83 years old, standing firm against the water cannons, waving the Indian national flag. He remained undeterred by the police’s attempt to disperse the protesting crowd. The caption accompanying the video states, “An 83-year-old Hindu Monk is facing the water cannon of Mamata Police without moving back an inch with courage in his heart, and the Indian national flag in his hands. He is seeking Justice for RG Kar victim.”
BJP leaders have widely shared the video, portraying the elderly man as a symbol of defiance against the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) government led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. BJP leader Locket Chatterjee, reacting to the video, stated on X, “End anarchy, end fascism. We all demand the end of TMC’s tyranny.” Accusing the state government of oppressing the agitation, she tweeted, “With the Tiranga in hand amid blasting water cannons, this man is defining his steadfast determination to against the oppression of @MamataOfficial. I stand by him, the people of the state stand by him and the entire country is standing by him.”
The BJP’s 12-hour Bengal bandh, which began at 6 am on Wednesday, was called following the police’s use of force to disperse protesters demanding justice for the doctor’s murder. The situation escalated when protesters clashed with police officers, leading to chaos and the deployment of water cannons to disperse the crowd at Santragachi in Howrah. Amit Malviya, the BJP IT cell head, shared the video of the elderly man, stating, “The man, waving a national flag, on the iconic Howrah bridge, amidst blazing water cannon, is the ultimate symbol of defiance against an oppressive Mamata Banerjee regime.”
The incident has further intensified the political tensions between the BJP and the TMC in West Bengal, highlighting the ongoing struggle for power in the state. The viral video has become a rallying point for the BJP, emphasizing their opposition to the TMC government and their support for the demands of the protestors.
