Nabanna Nightmare: BJP Protests Police Excesses with Statewide Bandh

The police response to the protesters who marched to the state secretariat, Nabanna, on Tuesday has prompted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to call for a 12-hour general strike (Bangla Bandh) throughout West Bengal on Wednesday, from 6
am to 6 pm.

Following the rape and killing of a 31-year-old trainee physician at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata earlier this month, the demonstrators demanded that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee resign.

The bandh, according to Union Minister and BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar, was a necessary reaction to what he called Mamata Banerjee's 'autocratic regime' accusing her Trinamool Congress (TMC) government of disregarding the public's
demand for justice in the matter.

Suvendu Adhikari, the leader of the opposition in Bengal, also denounced the police for what he said was excessive use of force during a nonviolent student march. Demonstrators attempted to approach Nabanna to demand the resignation of the Chief Minister, but the police met them with batons, tear gas, and water cannons.

Suvendu Adhikari threatened to 'bring the entire state to a halt' with the same ahead of the scheduled bandh. To assist individuals detained during the Nabanna protest with legal matters, the BJP has also established a helpline.

Author:

Aarya Kadam (News Writer) is a final-year BBA student and a creative writer with a passion for current affairs and legal judgments.