KOLKATA: Tension gripped West Bengal as BJP workers took to the streets in a massive protest against the alleged attack on their leader Suvendu Adhikari. The demonstration, which saw thousands rallying in key districts, turned into a scathing indictment of the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government.
Adhikari, the Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, was reportedly assaulted by unidentified miscreants during a public event. Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene where stones and sticks were hurled at his convoy, narrowly escaping serious injury thanks to quick security intervention. BJP leaders wasted no time in pointing fingers at the ruling TMC, accusing them of orchestrating political violence to silence opposition voices ahead of crucial elections.
‘This is the true face of Mamata’s goonda raj,’ thundered state BJP president Sukanta Majumdar from the protest stage. He detailed a pattern of attacks on BJP workers, claiming over 200 incidents in the past year alone. Protesters carried placards reading ‘Stop TMC Terror’ and ‘Protect Democracy,’ blocking major roads and demanding a thorough CBI probe.
The Mamata government dismissed the allegations as BJP’s drama. A senior TMC minister countered that Adhikari’s provocative speeches often incite violence, urging restraint from all political actors. However, the BJP ramped up its rhetoric, with national leaders like Amit Malviya tweeting about ‘anarchy in Bengal’ and calling for central intervention.
As night fell, clashes erupted between protesters and police in Nandigram, Adhikari’s stronghold. Tear gas shells were lobbed, and several workers were detained. This incident has reignited debates on law and order in West Bengal, where political rivalry frequently spills into street violence. With assembly polls looming, both parties are gearing up for a fierce battle, and this attack could prove a game-changer in the narrative war.
Analysts warn that escalating tensions might lead to more unrest, urging the Election Commission to step in. For now, Adhikari remains defiant, vowing to continue his fight against what he calls ‘TMC dictatorship.’ The protests signal BJP’s aggressive strategy to corner the ruling dispensation on security failures.