The Indian army on Monday dismantled Trinamool Congress’ (TMC’s) stage at Mayo road crossing to protest against “humiliation of Bengalis” in BJP-ruled states. After hearing that, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee rushed to the spot to talk to her party leaders who were sitting there to protest against Bengali humiliation.
Mamata sees conspiracy of BJP
Chief Minister said, “I respect army but when army has to work according to BJP’s verdict, you can see what happens.”
She also said, “When I was coming, some army personnel were running away. I said, why are you running away. You are doing this under order of Union Defence minister.”
She said, “I don’t need to take permission from Modi babu to stage protest. We will take permission from the people to stage protest.”
After Chief Minister came, the steps for the stage brought back and Chief Minister went to the stage along with Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma. later Chief Minister announced that, her party Trinamool Congress will shift the dharna to Rani Rashmani Avenue. “That place is under our police and we will take permission from them. We always take permission for every programme. We selected this venue because we wanted to sit in dharna at the feet of Mahatma Gandhi. We think that is our place. But, if they don’t want, no problem, we will sit at Rani Rashmani Avenue.”
She then added, “Before dismantling the stage they should have spoken with police, they should have consulted the police commissioner. They should have spoken to our leaders, even with me also. We are available any time. We said, we will hold the programme only on Saturday and Sunday. But they vacated the stage on Monday. I’m sorry to say this is not army. Pichhe mein kya hai? Chhupa rustam BJP party hai. Their government hai.”
According to army personnel, TMC took permission from them for this agitation upto August 31. So, army personnel came there to dismantle the stage on Monday, September 1. However, TMC denied the allegation. BJP however, stand beside the army.
TMC started this dharna protest from third week of August to protest against humiliation of Bengali migrant workers in BJP-ruled states. It was planned to continue this protest for indefinite time. “We personally informed army and also filed application to continue this protest upto December. But, suddenly some army personnel came on Monday afternoon and started dismantle the stage,” said TMC leader Baiswanar Chattopadhyay.
He then added, “I never saw in my 40 years of political life that, army is dismantling political protest stage. this is ridiculous.” He further said, “It is nothing but politically motivated. We are fighting for the pride of Bengali and that is why they are trying to stop our protest.”
Statement of Army
Army however, gave official statement where they mentioned, “Indian army (Local military Authority, Kolkata) gives permission for events in the Maidan area for a duration of two days, as directed by the Hon’ble supreme court of India. Permission for events greater than 3 days need to be obtained from the MoD, Govt of India. Permission for conduct of events were provided for 2 days , however the stage has been put up of almost a month, several reminders have been sent to the organisers for removal of the temporary structure however it was not removed. Thereafter the Kolkata police was informed and the structure was being removed by the Indian Army.”