'We were stopped, but ... ': Sanjay Raut accuses Centre of double standards over Bengal bandh
Times of India | 28 August 2024
Sanjay Raut NEW DELHI: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Wednesday accused the Centre of practicing double standards, pointing out that a bandh in BJP-led Maharashtra was stopped, while a similar bandh was allowed to proceed in West Bengal, which has an anti-BJP government. This comes in the wake of the BJP's 12-hour Bengal Bandh called in response to the murder and alleged sexual assault of a woman trainee doctor in Kolkata on August 28.
Raut remarked that when Shiv Sena (UBT) called for a bandh in Maharashtra, it was halted by the authorities. He attributed this to the current leadership, saying, "When we had given a call for bandh, then we were stopped. Because (Prime Minister Narendra) Modiji is running the government here. Here, Amit Shah is running the government. The same incident of sexual assault took place here too."
Comparing the situations, Raut noted that the Bengal Bandh was not stopped due to the presence of the Mamata Banerjee-led government. "We were stopped. But it (Bengal Bandh) was not stopped, as there is a Mamata Didi government in West Bengal. Anti-BJP government. This is our justice system. Double standard," he said.
The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi had earlier called for a bandh in Maharashtra to protest against the alleged sexual assault of two girls in Badlapur. Raut also acknowledged the actions taken by the West Bengal government following the incident at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. "Still, the BJP is attacking the police there," he alleged.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) party workers also protested against the BJP's 12-hour bandh, condemning the alleged police crackdown during the 'Nabanna Abhijan' march. The TMC accused BJP of creating anarchy in West Bengal. TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh stated, "We all want justice in the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape-murder case. Mamata Banerjee also wants justice...the case is now in CBI's hands...One accused has been arrested...now the CBI is investigating the matter...They (BJP) are trying to create anarchy here, yesterday they attacked the police and today they have called this bandh...Everything is normal in Bengal...The people of West Bengal have rejected BJP's bandh."
On Tuesday, the Nabanna Abhiyan rally began from College Square in Kolkata amid significant security measures around the state secretariat. Protesters gathered at the Santragachi area in Howrah. During the protest, police used water cannons on protesters who were attempting to climb over barricades. Some protestors clashed with police personnel and dismantled the barricades at Santragachi.
The situation escalated as protesters dragged away the police barricades, prompting the police to use lathi-charge and tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. The tense situation highlighted the stark political tensions between the ruling TMC and the opposition BJP in West Bengal.