The Bharatiya Janata Party has called on the public to observe a 12-hour 'Bengal Bandh' against the rape and murder of a junior doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. State party president Sukanta Majumdar also accused the Left and the Trinamool Congress of employing a strategy of "setting politics" in Bengal.
Sukanta Majumdar said that the TMC government was oppressing students and the Left had expressed its tacit support by not participating in the protests. Majumdar also accused TMC workers of using the 'Nabanna Abhijan' rally as a cover to create chaos on Tuesday. It urged the people to observe 'Bengal Bandh' from 6 AM to 6 PM on Wednesday.
Trinamool's 'Well-Scripted' Retort
The Trinamool Congress reacted to the BJP's 'Bengal Bandh' call by urging the public to not heed the BJP's call for the 'bandh'. TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said: "This is a well-scripted plan to create a state of panic and chaos in Bengal. He said the BJP had brought in cadres from outside Bengal to attack the police. They [BJP] wanted to instigate the police to fire at people like the Left government did in 1993. But their plan failed. This is why they called for the bandh."
West Bengal Chief Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay said that the government does not endorse the 'Bengal Bandh' called by the BJP and asked all state government employees to join their duties as usual. He said if the government employees face any trouble, it will be looked after by the government. He also ordered the state transport department to carry on duties as usual.
The BJP also embarked on a 'Lal Bazar Abhijan', led by Sukanta Majumdar to demand the release of those detained during the 'Nabanna Abhijan' protests against the Bengal government. They were stopped right ahead of the Lal Bazar HQ. However, the protesters led by Sukanta Majumdar sat on the road in front of the police headquarters.