The Mamata Banerjee-BJP stand-off in West Bengal intensified with clashes breaking out between BJP workers and the police in the heart of Kolkata on Wednesday afternoon.
Clashes were reported from north and central Kolkata areas, a few yards from the city police headquarters. The BJP is holding a march to protest the killing of its workers as well as the complete breakdown of law and order in the state. The march was also organised to protest the killing of BJP workers allegedly by their TMC counterparts.
Eyewitnesses allege, the Kolkata Police baton-charged, used water cannons and lobbed tear gas shells as BJP workers tried to break down barricades and march-on towards the city police headquarters.
The clashes broke out on the Bepin Behari Ganguly Street-CR Avenue crossing, one of the most busy areas in the city that connect north and central Kolkata to the southern parts of the city.
The BJP protest march had begun at around 1pm from central Kolkata's Subodh Mullick Square and was scheduled to conclude at Lalbazar, where the Kolkata Police Headquarters is located.
BJP top brass claimed that the march saw the participation of nearly one lakh supporters. Nearly 50,000 workers were arrested, and later released.
“There is complete break-down of law and order in the state. The opposition party, particularly the BJP workers, are being attacked every day. Opposition voices are being throttled here,” Dilip Ghosh, MP and President of the BJP’s state unit said.
According to Ghosh, “a peaceful protest rally” was attacked upon. Water canons and tear gas shells were lobbed without any warning.
“MPs, police officers and even doctors do not feel secure here. Mamata Banerjee has no right to rule the state any more,” he added before calling off the protest march.
Two years ago, the BJP had organised a similar march to the Kolkata Police Headquarters which resulted in clashes.
According to Kailash Vijayvargiya, senior BJP leader in-charge of West Bengal, the mandate of the people is with BJP.
“People will overthrow this Mamata Banerjee government very soon,” he said.