TMC, BJP clash over Kolkata rally as police file 2 FIRs
Times of India | 10 July 2026
Kolkata: While TMC was critical of BJP workers allegedly blocking Mamata Banerjee’s rally on Wednesday, minister Dilip Ghosh saw nothing unusual in party workers “making merry” to celebrate victory in the election. He warned TMC that it would be done inside her home the next time.
“There is no harm if our workers were in a good spirit and wanted to sing and dance to celebrate election victory. They haven’t danced inside her home, but in front. If necessary, we can do that the next time,” Ghosh said as he termed the protest “theatrics”.
Earlier, TMC MP Mahua Moitra posted on her X handle: “Kolkata HC gave permission for TMC rally. But BJP goons were let in by police to attack the rally & brazenly assault youth workers. See how the head of our IT cell @03upasana drives her bike while being viciously heckled & attacked.”
Accusing the govt of turning a blind eye to “hooliganism”, she wrote: “But what place do moral values, public conscience, or democratic principles have under @BJP4India’s GOONDA RAJ? The very state that ought to uphold the law appears to shield those accused of resorting to hooliganism.”
Ghosh, who recounted how BJP workers were attacked while in the opposition, said, “You can do anything when you are in power. But you need patience to fight as the opposition. We have fought against TMC when they attacked us. They have lost their patience, it seems.”
He added, “I have seen that she thrashed a person. It seems that she has lost it completely. There was no discipline in the party. Everyone had a free run. Nothing will change now if they are thrashing their own men.”
Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya, who referred to Abhishek Banerjee’s comment on the rallygoers at Nabanna Chalo Abhijan three years back, said, “She (Mamata Banerjee) has a weak memory and has forgotten that Abhishek Banerjee said that he would have shot rallygoers on the forehead. People have seen what TMC has done and have sent them to exile.”
Police on Thursday said that two FIRs were drawn up so far at two police stations across two separate divisions. The FIR names no one. Cops said no one has been detained so far, though CCTV footage is being collected to try to gather leads on the accused.