Tensions escalated in West Bengal on Tuesday as protests demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee turned violent, leading to clashes between protesters and police. The protests were sparked by the rape-murder of a doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, and demonstrators aimed to reach the state secretariat, ‘Nabanna,’ to express their outrage.
Police responded to the protesters with tear gas, water cannons, and lathi charges, citing the protesters’ use of stones and bricks against security forces and attempts to topple barricades. The BJP, led by party president J P Nadda, condemned the police action, accusing the West Bengal government of supporting criminals and silencing dissent. Nadda took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to criticize the alleged police brutality and express his support for the protesters’ demands for women’s safety.
Following the clashes, the BJP announced a 12-hour general strike in Kolkata from 6 am to 6 pm on Wednesday, demanding a CBI investigation into the doctor’s death and calling for polygraph tests on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Police Commissioner Vineet Goel. The party also criticized Banerjee’s leadership, calling her a dictator and accusing her of tearing the Constitution to shreds.
Meanwhile, the West Bengal government, under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, assured the public that normal life would not be affected by the BJP’s strike. Chief Advisor Alapan Bandopadhyay declared that the government would not allow any bandh (shutdown) on Wednesday and urged citizens to refrain from participating in the strike. The government pledged to take necessary steps to maintain normalcy.
The protests and subsequent political clashes highlight the deep-seated tensions in West Bengal, with the BJP and the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) locked in a bitter power struggle. The doctor’s death has become a flashpoint for public anger, raising concerns about safety and justice within the state. The ongoing developments are expected to further escalate the political landscape in the state.
