Bengal bandh: BJP state chief writes to governor, seeks release of students detained during 'Nabanna Abhijan' protests
Times of India | 28 August 2024
Sukanta Majumdar NEW DELHI: Union Minister and BJP West Bengal President Sukanta Majumdar urged West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose to instruct the state police to release student activists detained during the 'Nabanna Abhijan' protest march. Majumdar claimed that the detention of the activists violated their democratic right to protest, alleging the police used excessive force against peaceful protesters.
In a letter to Governor Bose, Majumdar highlighted the incidents of police excesses, stating, "With due respect, I am writing to draw your attention to the recent incidents of excessive use of force by the police against peaceful student activists during today's Nabanna Avijaan protest, organised by Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj.An unspecified number of students have been detained in Howrah, Kolkata, and other areas across West Bengal."
Majumdar emphasized the fundamental democratic right to protest, asserting, "As you are aware, the right to protest is a fundamental democratic right guaranteed to every citizen. Peaceful protests are essential to the fabric of our democracy, allowing citizens to express their grievances and opinions. The actions of the police in this instance appear to be disproportionate and unprovoked, undermining the democratic values that we, as a nation, uphold."
He requested immediate action to address the situation, writing, "In light of these grave concerns, I earnestly request you to take immediate and necessary steps to address these instances of police excesses. Additionally, I urge you to instruct the state police to release all the student activists currently in custody unconditionally, as their detention violates their democratic rights."
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) called for a '12-hour Bengal Bandh' on Wednesday, August 28, in protest against the police crackdown on peaceful protesters during 'Nabanna Abhijan,' a march to the state secretariat that took place on Tuesday. Majumdar stated that the bandh was called in response to what he described as "violence on the student agitation" during the protest march.
Majumdar further elaborated on the situation while protesting in front of the Kolkata Police Headquarters in the Lal Bazar area. He said, "The police and Mamata Banerjee have unleashed violence on the student agitation. They have lathi-charged, used tear gas and used water cannons on the democratic, peaceful protest. So in opposition to this, we have called for a 12-hour bandh in Bengal tomorrow."
He reiterated his demand for the release of the students who were arrested by the police during the 'Nabanna Abhiyan,' emphasizing the excessive force employed by law enforcement.
The protest march to the West Bengal Secretariat 'Nabanna' was organized by the 'Paschim Banga Chatra Samaj' and other organizations to address the recent rape and murder of a woman trainee doctor in Kolkata. The march aimed to express their grievances and demand justice for the incident.
The situation has raised concerns about the balance between maintaining public order and upholding democratic rights. The actions taken by the police during these protests have drawn criticism, leading to calls for a reassessment of strategies employed during public demonstrations.
As events unfold, the focus remains on the release of the detained students and the preservation of democratic rights in the state of West Bengal.