‘Police could have SHOT violent BJP protesters BUT…’: Mamata Banerjee on Nabanana Cholo march showdown

Kolkata: Defending West Bengal police from criticism, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said that the cops deployed on duty could have opened fire on ‘violent’ BJP protesters during their Nabanna Cholo March, but the government exercised ‘maximum’ restraint. Banerjee also alleged that the saffron party brought in goons armed with bombs in trains from outside the state to foment trouble during its ‘Nabanna Abhijan' on Tuesday.

"Many police personnel were brutally attacked by the participants of that rally... Police could have opened fire, but our administration showed maximum restraint," she said during an administrative meeting at Nimtouri in Purba Medinipur district. The CM said the protest march inconvenienced commuters and traders, barely a few weeks ahead of Durga Puja, Bengal's biggest festival.

"We have nothing against democratic and peaceful protests. But, the BJP and its supporters resorted to violence, vandalism and arson. They torched properties and instilled fear among people. “We won't allow this. Arrests are being made, and law will take its own course," she said.

It may be recalled that Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of Opposition in West Assembly, warned that his party’s fight against the “corrupt” Mamata Banerjee government will continue in West Bengal after a violent face-off with the state police during the Nabanna Cholo protest march in capital Kolkata.

“Hands and feet of many (BJP) workers were broken, and more than 200 workers were injured. We'll fight against this,” LoP Suvendu Adhikari said on Tuesday after being released by police following a violent 'Nabanna Chalo' march.

The Calcutta High Court also sought a report from West Bengal Home Secretary over today’s BJP ‘Nabanna Abhijan.’ The High Court said that the report must be submitted on or before September 19.  The High Court also directed the West Bengal police to not illegally detain any person and also ensure that there is no damage to public property.

The directions from the high court came after the streets of Kolkata turned into a virtual battlefield on Tuesday afternoon as BJP activists, marching to the West Bengal Secretariat to protest corruption issues, clashed with police.

A police vehicle was torched, while a BJP councillor of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, an Assistant Commissioner of Police and several others, including both BJP supporters and police personnel, were injured.