The Bharatiya Janata Party has called a 12-hour West Bengal bandh on Wednesday to protest against alleged police excesses and lathi-charge on protesters during the Nabanna Avijan or march to secretariat organised by the West Bengal Chhatra Samaj, state party president Sukanta Majumdar said Tuesday.
Majumdar, also a Union minister, alleged the police resorted to lathi-charge, lofted tear gas shells and sprayed water cannons on the peaceful protests in the city and Howrah district in which many
protesters were wounded while demanding justice for the woman doctor who was murdered and raped in a Kolkata hospital.
He also called upon the people from all walks of life to join the dawn to dusk shutdown on Wednesday. Majumdar also said the BJP has reopened its helpline to assist the arrested protesters as well as provide medical support to those injured in Tuesday’s lathi-charge.
He also said the party would move the Calcutta High court on Wednesday regarding its proposed protests, after the police refused to give permission for them.
Ruling Trinamool Congress spokesman Kunal Ghosh, reacting to the call given by BJP for a shutdown, said there will be no bandh in Bengal as they did not believe in bandh culture.
He alleged there was a conspiracy against the West Bengal government by the Opposition parties, including the BJP.
Ghosh thanked the police forces for restraining themselves despite provocation by the protesters during Nabanna Avijan on Tuesday.
