Kolkata Battles BJP's ‘Nabanna Chalo’ Abhiyan

 A fierce clash between BJP and the State Police disrupts the peace in Kolkata.

On Tuesday, the 13^th of September, 2022, BJP ran its biggest campaign ‘Nabanna Chalo’ in Kolkata a year after its defeat in the 2021’s State Assembly Election.  Arms like tear gas, barricades, water cannons, etc. were used to stop the BJP’s protest march, to state secretariat ‘Nabanna’ over recent corruption allegations against Trinamool. These actions led to a big commotion. Many BJP workers and leaders got thrashed and detained accordingly.

Police vehicle put on fire by protesters [Photo Courtesy: google/prabhatkhabar]

To stop the processions early, the railway stations of Raniganj and Bolpur witnessed clashes and detention. Chaos prevailed as vehicles carrying BJP members were allegedly stopped by the state police of North 24 Parganas, Haldia and Nandigram with the help of barricades. Suvendu Adhikari, Locket Chatterjee and Rahul Sinha were detained for leading the processions but later released.

Stones were pelted at police in Lalbazaar by the protesters. Police kiosks and public property were also damaged when protestors were stopped from moving past the barricades. Streets turned into battlefields and witnessed fierce tussle between the police and the BJP workers in Howrah and MG Road areas.

After the day of the Nabanna procession, CM Mamata Banerjee said that the government restrained itself during the clashes or else they could have shot the violent protestors during the march. She added that the saffron party had brought goons in trains loaded with bombs from outside the State to create conflict during its Nabanna Campaign. In the meantime, the BJP also alleged that Bengal has become ‘Lawless and Bankrupt’ under the Mamata Banerjee-led government which is using police torture to suppress the member’s voices.

This received an overwhelming response from the BJP supporters from across West Bengal as they came to Kolkata and Howrah to take part in the ‘Nabanna Chalo Rally’. Where remains the Bengal Police had denied permission to take out the BJP Nabanna Campaign beforehand to avoid any chaos and the rest is history.

In the support of this, the State Police informed that many people have been arrested so far.  JP Nadda, BJP's National President, established a five-member committee on thursday to investigate the violence that occurred during the ‘Nabanna’ rally in West Bengal.

Author

Sheetal Prasad