'Black day in Bengal politics': BJP's Tejasvi Surya slams Mamata government after Nabanna Abhiyan turns violent

As many as four rallies were taken out by the BJP with the demands to conduct various examinations for state government jobs, in a bid to address the youth of the state.

Surya, who was leading one of the four rallies, said, "It is the black day in Bengal politics. The Mamata Banerjee government murdered democracy in Bengal today."

"All people who raise their voice against this corrupt government are politically murdered. Mamata Banerjee is scared of Yuva Morcha," said the BJP leader, who chose West Bengal for his first state visit after becoming the youth wing president of his party.

Several BJP leaders including Raju Banerjee fell unconscious when water cannons were used by police.

West Bengal Police during the march recovered an arm from one of the protesters, who is believed to be a BJP leader.  

As per the government figure, 113 people have been detained in Kolkata and Howrah.

Pointing fingers at the usage of a blue chemical by police along with waters to disperse the protesters, Surya said, "No where in the world, chemicals are used to disperse protesters. A dark blue chemical was used in water canons. This must be probed. I request the state and central governments to probe into it."

In a direct attack on Banerjee, who also heads the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), the BJP MP said, "I want to tell Mamata Di, this was my first protest march. We will continue till BJP comes to power in the state, uprooting the most dictatorial and corrupt government."

BJP national president Jagat Prakash Nadda too slammed the TMC government tweeting, "The only thing Mamata Banerjee’s government has done better than the previous Left regimes is increase brutality and political violence against political opponents. Bengal has been burning under her administration, which patronises violent elements."

Government rubbishes BJP claims

In contrast to the claims made by the BJP, West Bengal Chief Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay said the political organisation had asked for a permission only on Wednesday evening.

"A political organisation had asked for the permission only on Wednesday evening. We had replied to it within two hours. We had denied permission citing a latest Supreme Court order which had disallowed occupying public places for protests."

"Moreover Section 144 is in place in the area around Nabanna," he added.

Bandyopadhyay added that the government in its reply had said it "welcomes all peaceful and democratic rallies" which had the allowable parameters.

Regarding the usage of coloured liquids, the Chief Secretary said, "The coloured liquid is used to identify the persons for further actions." 

After denying permission for the rally citing Covid-19 situation, the Mamata Banerjee government last evening stated the state secretariat Nabanna will be shut for two days from Thursday for sanitisation purpose, drawing ire from the saffron party.

Banerjee, who was out of the city for administrative works, returned to Kolkata this evening.