Roopa Ganguly, Kolkata Police Scuffle As BJP Protests Bengal Bill Allowing Women To Work In Bars
A scuffle erupted between Kolkata Police and BJP leader Roopa Ganguly amid a protest over a new West Bengal bill permitting women to work in bars.
A scuffle broke out between the Kolkata Police and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Roopa Ganguly on Thursday as the party staged a protest against the West Bengal government’s recent legislative move permitting women to work in bars. The protest was held following the passage of the West Bengal Finance Bill 2025, which introduced key amendments to the Bengal Excise Act, 1909, including the removal of prohibitions on women working in ON-category liquor shops.
The protest led by BJP members saw Ganguly engaging in a heated exchange with police officials before being detained. Visuals shared by news agency ANI showed the former Rajya Sabha MP being escorted by security personnel as tensions flared.
#WATCH | West Bengal: Scuffle breaks out between police and BJP leader Roopa Ganguly protesting in Kolkata against Trinamool Congress (TMC) government over the introduction of a bill permitting women to work in bars. pic.twitter.com/5mbWMiPUFs
— ANI (@ANI) March 22, 2025
Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar and BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul joined BJP workers during the protest.
#WATCH | Kolkata: Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar and BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul join BJP workers as they protest against the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government over the introduction of a bill permitting women to work in bars. pic.twitter.com/NzZYbT7D8u
— ANI (@ANI) March 22, 2025
Bengal Assembly Passed Bill Allowing Women To Work In Bars, TMC Govt Calls Restrictions “Discriminatory”
The legislation, tabled by Minister of State Chandrima Bhattacharya, was passed in the West Bengal Assembly on Wednesday. The state government has defended the amendments, stating that the previous restrictions on women were “discriminatory” and that the changes align the Bengal Excise Act with modern legal frameworks.
As per ANI, the bill also incorporates updates necessitated by the replacement of major legal codes, namely the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Indian Penal Code, with the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, respectively. Another significant amendment involves the regulation of molasses to prevent its misuse in illicit liquor production.
Additionally, the bill introduces provisions for levying penalties on excess wastage of spirit in distilleries and warehouses, extends the duration of temporary liquor licences, and implements statutory procedures for the confiscation of seized articles. A structural change in the excise administration has also been formalised, replacing the title of “Additional Excise Commissioner” with “Special Excise Commissioner.”
The BJP has strongly opposed the legislation, with party leaders arguing that allowing women to work in bars could lead to “moral degradation” and adversely impact society. Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government has maintained that the move is a step towards gender equality and economic inclusion.
The protest comes amid heightened political tensions between the BJP and the ruling TMC in West Bengal, with both parties clashing over various governance issues in the run-up to the Assembly elections next year.
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