Kolkata: Central Kolkata had a chock-a-block start to Thursday as thousands of protesters, belonging to organisations, like Jamaat-e-Ulema-e-Hind and its affiliates, converged on a spot near Ramlila Maidan on CIT Road and surroundings as early as 7am, catching school- and office-goers off guard.
These rallies, being taken out in protest against the new Waqf law, overlapped with processions by teachers, who have recently lost their jobs and CPM-affiliates, bringing traffic to a grinding halt from College Street to Beckbagan. The number of participants in the unemployed teachers' rallies was fewer in number, but those, too, contributed to the gridlock as they snaked their way from Sealdah to Esplanade.
While morning commuters had a trying time reaching their destinations, returning crowds had an equally hard time. Vehicles were reported to be diverted as late as Thursday night as the after-effects of the day's jams continued. Several school vehicles, and ambulances had to take long detours. Police were seen helping Rajdhani Express passengers reach Sealdah station.
"The road between Ballygunge Phari and Park Circus was clogged. Trucks with rallyists were the only vehicles moving. I had to alight near Modern High School and walk to my office near CNMCH," said Tanima Mondal, who works at a private firm.
The larger demonstration, organised by West Bengal State Jamiat-E-Ulama at Ramlila Maidan, drew more than 75,000 people from across Bengal. Buses and trucks, transporting protesters, started arriving at the venue as early as 6.30 am. By 7 am, protesters had occupied Moulali crossing, blocking major arterial roads, including AJC Bose Road, Lenin Sarani, SN Banerjee Road and CIT Road. Police imposed emergency traffic diversions through Suresh Sarkar Street, Elliot Road and Ripon Street. The impact extended up to Howrah bridge, MG Road and CR Avenue. The situation was complicated by parked vehicles along Strand Road, Bangabasi College grounds, Outram Road and JL Nehru Road.
Sk Rajabul Islam, a key organiser who travelled from Pingla, said, "We plan larger agitations in coming weeks."
Adding to the chaos was the rally with around 750 people, comprising deprived teachers, CPM-affiliates, and civil society members, from Sealdah around 1 pm. It coincided with the city's traffic switchover period. The rally, which was to take SN Banerjee Road, was diverted through College Street and BB Ganguly Street due to parking from the earlier protest. Disruptions peaked around 3 pm, when both the groups converged on Dorina crossing, resulting in a 40-minute blockade, before they shifted to RR Avenue.