Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Kunal Ghosh has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of deliberately attacking the party's protest rally in Kolkata, alleging that the opposition attempted to disrupt a peaceful demonstration despite permission granted by the Calcutta High Court. He claimed the incident was an attack on democratic rights and accused the BJP of trying to silence the opposition through violence.
Addressing the media after clashes broke out during the rally, Ghosh said the TMC's protest was organised to demand justice in the alleged rape and murder of a minor girl in Baruipur. He alleged that BJP supporters blocked the procession at several points, hurled abuses, and assaulted TMC workers. According to him, the confrontation was a planned attempt to prevent the party from exercising its democratic right to protest.
Referring to the violence, Ghosh said, "If democracy allows peaceful protests, then attacking a rally with court permission is an attack on democracy itself." He also accused sections of the police of failing to act against those responsible for the disruption and questioned why adequate security was not provided despite prior permission for the march.
The protest, led by TMC chairperson Mamata Banerjee, witnessed tense scenes as supporters of the TMC and BJP came face-to-face in central Kolkata. The ruling party alleged that several of its workers, including women supporters, were assaulted during the clashes, while the BJP denied the allegations and claimed that its own workers had also been attacked. Security personnel were later deployed in large numbers to bring the situation under control.
The BJP rejected Ghosh's accusations, maintaining that its workers were staging peaceful counter-protests and alleging that the TMC was attempting to politicise the incident. The party said the allegations were intended to divert attention from the issues raised by the opposition and denied any organised attack on the rally.
Police have not officially confirmed the allegations made by either side. Authorities said they are examining video footage and other evidence to determine how the violence began and identify those involved. The clashes have further intensified the political confrontation between the TMC and the BJP, with both parties continuing to trade allegations over responsibility for the unrest.
