Mamata attacks police, BJP over curbs on Rabindra Jayanti events
The Statesman | 11 May 2026
Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the police administration and the BJP, alleging that permission was denied to host programmes by “Desh Bachao Ganatantrik Mancha” to celebrate Rabindra Jayanti in Kolkata.
Speaking at a small programme organised near her Kalighat residence, Ms Banerjee claimed that the police did not allow the organisation to hold Rabindra Jayanti events at three proposed venues, including Kalighat fire station crossing and Kalighat More. “We have been observing Rabindra Jayanti, Gandhi Jayanti and Netaji Jayanti since our childhood. Now permission is being denied even for such cultural programmes,” she alleged. Claiming that decorators and suppliers were allegedly warned against extending support for the event, the Trinamul chief said she had to organise the programme in a limited manner.
“Today we bought two small platforms ourselves because decorators were told not to cooperate,” she said. The former chief minister also accused BJP supporters of unleashing “unchecked terror” against Trinamul workers and sympathisers across the state after the recent political change in Bengal. “Lawlessness is prevailing everywhere. Even the 92-year-old mother of a Scheduled Caste domestic worker employed at my house had to be shifted elsewhere fearing attacks by BJP-backed miscreants,” Ms Banerjee alleged.
She further claimed that armed intimidation and violence were taking place in several areas while the police remained “silent spectators”. Drawing a comparison with the change of power in 2011, Ms Banerjee asserted that the Trinamul Congress had not allowed any retaliatory violence after defeating the Left Front government. “After coming to power in 2011, we ensured the safety of our political opponents. I had even sent my bulletproof vehicle to Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and provided him Z-plus security,” she claimed.
She also alleged that security cover provided to Trinamul leaders had been withdrawn after the BJP assumed power in the state. “Since the day they won, our security has been withdrawn,” she said. At the same time, Ms Banerjee attempted to downplay the growing signs of internal dissent within the Trinamul Congress following the party’s electoral setback. “Anyone who wants to leave the party may do so, and those who wish to join are welcome,” she remarked, while taking an indirect dig at some critics within the organisation whom she described as “business-minded people” rather than political leaders.
The remarks came amid escalating criticism of party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee from within Trinamul ranks. Senior leaders, including Rabindranath Ghosh and Krishnendu Narayan Chowdhury have recently questioned the party’s growing dependence on corporate-style management and poll strategist I-PAC.
Adding to the embarrassment for the party leadership, Priyadarshini Hakim, daughter of senior Trinamul leader Firhad Hakim, took to social media to criticise the leadership style within the party. Drawing references from Indian epics, she compared Ms Banerjee to “Dhritarashtra” and Abhishek Banerjee to “Duryodhan”, alleging that “blind loyalty” and dynastic politics had weakened the organisation.