On Tuesday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) declared a 12 hour bandh in West Bengal to protest police actions against participants marching to the state secretariat. The march was in response to the terrible rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Sukanta Majumdar, President of the Bengal BJP, issued an announcement encouraging locals to join in tomorrow’s nationwide strike, which is scheduled from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Majumdar criticised the event, citing it as a serious threat to public safety, and requested prompt action from state authorities. The ‘Nabanna Abhiyan’ protest over the RG Kar case got violent, with protestors breaking police barriers outside Santragachi in Howrah and clashing with cops, triggering Kolkata Police action.
The protest march began at College Square in Kolkata and proceeded to Nabanna, the state secretariat that houses the chief minister’s office. The demonstrators were stopped at the landmark Howrah Bridge, when the police used lathi charges, water cannons and tear gas shells. Ahead of the march, the Kolkata Police transformed the high-security zone into a fortress, closing all roads leading to Nabanna.
BJP’s Shehzad Poonawalla quoted, “Mamata Banerjee’s government has protected the rapists, destroyed evidence, and suppressed the voice of truth, for which the Supreme Court and the High Court reprimanded. Now once again, when the students, doctors, and common citizens’ are taking out Nabanna Chalo Abhiyan’ to demand justice for the daughter, Mamata Banerjee’s government is blocking the roads.”
Also, BJP’s IT Cell head Amit Malviya criticised Mamata Banerjee, stating, “Is she imagining students’ seeking justice for the RG Kar rape and murder victim marching ahead in tanks?” he asked.