As the political smear campaign over the alleged rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kahr Medical College and Hospital continues, the Trinamool Congress, an alliance of political parties in northeastern India, has condemned a planned “Nabanna Abhijan” rally on Tuesday (August 27) demanding the resignation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as “illegal and an attempt to foment widespread unrest in Kolkata”.
At a TMC press conference — hosted by senior leaders Chandrima Bhattacharya, Kunal Ghosh and Joyprakash Majumdar — two videos were released purportedly showing two individuals advocating violence to ensure the success of the rally. The party said the videos were obtained through “sting operations” and alleged that right-wing groups and some leftists, including the CPI(M), were hatching a grand conspiracy to turn the rally into a bloodbath and spread violence.
Meanwhile, the BJP countered that the TMC was using police to spread panic ahead of the rally and that the chief minister was trying to quash a popular movement that was gaining momentum under “tremendous pressure”.Senior leader Amit Malviya said the police were responsible for maintaining law and order and therefore steps must be taken to ensure that the protests are not disrupted.
According to News 18 Bangla, which was unable to verify the video, two people can be heard saying: “Bullets will fly, rubber bullets will be fired… Only if there are casualties can this issue be politicised… If there are no casualties, it will all be in vain. But we are confident that on August 27, there will be casualties. If not, it’s over…”
The TMC accused the BJP of hatching a conspiracy and said the party is resorting to politics of “lining up bodies in the guise of justice”. The video was posted on the ruling party’s official account X and said “bodies should fall” for “political momentum”. A shocking video has surfaced which shows there is a sinister conspiracy behind tomorrow’s Nabanna Abhiyan! The BJP is resorting to politics of lining up bodies in the guise of justice! Instead of asking the CBI to fast-track the investigation, the BJP is doing just that. “The evidence is there,” it said.
“Bodies have to roll” for “political momentum”. Shocking video emerges showing sinister conspiracy behind tomorrow’s Nabanna Abhiyan! BJP resorts to politics of corpses in the guise of justice!
Instead of asking CBI to expedite investigation… pic.twitter.com/QJjzT7ICPL
— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) August 26, 2024
Speaking at a press conference, TMC spokesman Kunal Ghosh questioned why the rally was heading to Nabanna, where the state government secretariat is located, instead of the CBI office where the investigation is ongoing. He warned that there could be chaos as outsiders would be brought in or people would dress up in police uniform to incite violence and blame the police.
“It is clear from these videos what these people, mainly right-wing forces like the RSS and ABVP and some leftists backed by the CPI(M) really want. They want death. We also have information that people from outside the state are also being brought in to foment unrest during the rally. We have learnt that some people are wearing police uniforms at the rally and will open fire on people to shift the blame on the police,” he said.
Senior minister Chandrima Bhattacharya alleged that the rally, organised by a student organisation called Chhatra Samaj, was part of a plan by some forces to disrupt peace and stability in the state. She dismissed the demand for Banerjee’s resignation as politically motivated.
“The call for this rally was given by Chhatra Samaj on social media and Chhatra Samaj has not informed the police about its plans. We all want justice for the victim and punishment for the perpetrators. The case has been handed over to the CBI and the demand for the Chief Minister’s resignation is politically motivated,” she said.
Ghosh further said that the forces intent on destabilising Bengal were interested in ousting the Chief Minister from power as he had been rejected time and time again by the Bengal voters.
“Mamata Banerjee will be held responsible for the untoward incident at the Nabanna rally.”
In response, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state spokesperson and Senator Samik Bhattacharya denied any involvement of his party in the rally and asserted that any participation by saffron party members was in a personal capacity. He said the BJP had no official role in organising the march.
Malviya said that instead of maintaining law and order, the police are being used to spread fear and suppress people’s right to protest. He said that Banerjee is actually responsible for any untoward incidents during the Nabana rally. He called the police “incompetent clowns” and said they prefer to act as a springboard for the ruling TMC. “Let me be clear: Home Minister Mamata Banerjee is solely responsible for any untoward incidents that take place during tomorrow’s Nabana rally,” he wrote in an X post.
After thoroughly discrediting the Acting DGP of West Bengal (during #Sandeshkhali) and CP Kolkata (for their alleged role in covering up the RG Kalu rape and murder case), Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has pushed for Supratim Sarkar, the ADG & IGP of South Bengal, to… pic.twitter.com/m2X6V5Rhza — Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) August 26, 2024
“After thoroughly discrediting the Lt Governor of West Bengal (during the Sandeshkari case) and the CP of Kolkata (for their alleged role in covering up the RG Kaar rape and murder case), Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has pushed for Supratim Sarkar, the Lt Governor and Governor of South Bengal, to spread panic ahead of the Nabano Abhiyaan called by ‘Paschimbanga Chatro Samaj’ on August 27,” he said in the post.
He also held the police responsible for the vandalism that took place at RG Kalu Hospital during the ‘Take Back the Night’ protests on the intervening night of August 14 and 15. “The first thing the West Bengal police should do to maintain law and order is to take all TMC MPs, state legislators, city councillors and criminals affiliated to the TMC into preventive custody, including those disguised as city police. It is these people who are likely to resort to violence and intimidation on the instructions of Mamata Banerjee. The time to act is now,” he added.
State BJP leader Sukanta Majumdar also held a press conference at the BJP office in Salt Lake City, where he said students who want to stage peaceful protests are scared because they are scared of the chief minister and his nephew (TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee).
“Though we did not start this movement, we support it which is seeking justice and also demanding Mamata Banerjee’s resignation. Police are now trying to create fear,” he added.
The CPI(M) also joined the BJP in criticising the TMC’s allegations as an expression of fear and desperation. Party leader Satart Basu accused the party of panicking over the rise in spontaneous protests and stressed that the CPI(M) supports peaceful and democratic protests against the alleged misrule of the ruling party.
“We have repeatedly said that the BJP and right-wing organisations are behind the August 27 rally and no Left organisation will take part in it,” Basu said.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (ABVP) had previously clarified that it had not initiated the call for protests, but had voiced its support for the pro-democracy movement.