Bengal On Boil: BJP's Huge 'Nabanna Chalo' March Results In Violent Clashes; Police Use Tear Gas, Water Cannons

BJP workers marched in huge numbers towards Mamata Banerjee's office against political killings of their leaders. Police used tear gas, water cannons on BJP workers at Howrah's Santragachi. Firearms were also recovered from BJP Bengal Youth Wing workers participating in the protest.

Howrah: BJP activists march towards State Secretariat Nabanna after breaking through barricades during a protest against worsening law and order in the state, in Howrah, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020. (PTI Photo/Swapan Mahapatra)(PTI08-10-2020 000095A)

Kolkata: The Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), the youth wing of the BJP, organised the ‘Nabanna Chalo’ (march to Nabanna) programme to raise its voice on issues ranging from an alleged lack of employment opportunities in Bengal to law and order problems and killing of BJP's Councillor a few days ago. The march resulted in violent clashes between Bhartiya Janta Party workers and the West Bengal police on Thursday after which the famous Howrah Bridge and Second Hooghly bridge were closed. Image: Twitter/BJP Bengal As per reports, police used tear gas, water cannon on BJP workers at Howrah's Santragachi. The saffron party supporters fought pitched battle with the Bengal cops, during which a firearm was recovered from one of the protesters.

West Bengal: Police use water cannon & lathi-charge to disperse BJP workers during a protest at Hastings in Kolkata.

BJP has launched a state-wide 'Nabanna Chalo' agitation march today to protest against the alleged killing of its party workers. pic.twitter.com/T2om4xUxlq — ANI (@ANI) October 8, 2020

Raising anti-government slogans, BJP workers gathered outside the party's state headquarter in Kolkata in large numbers for the 'Nabanna Chalo' agitation. The protests organised by the West Bengal BJP is against the "worsening law and order situation" in the state.

জলকামান, কাঁদানে গ্যাস মেরেও বিজেপিকে দমানো যাবেনা দিদি! বিজেপির কর্মীরা তাদের পতাকাকে শক্ত করে ধরে রাখবে এবং ২০২১ শে আপনার বিদায় সুনিশ্চিত করবে। #NabannoCholo pic.twitter.com/ERg8IkOSqP

— BJP Bengal (@BJP4Bengal) October 8, 2020

According to ANI, on October 2, after his meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah, and National party president JP Nadda in Delhi, West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh said that the state unit of the party will organise a huge protest on October 8 regarding the corrupt and goon politics of the West Bengal government. The BJYM informed the government that each of these rallies will have around 25,000 youths. ​Ahead of the 'Nabanna Chalo' agitation, chief minister Mamata Banerjee's government announced that the building will be shut down the building for two days from October 8 'for sanitization purpose'. In response to police lathi charge and tear gas, BJP workers set ablaze tires in Howrah during party's state-wide 'Nabanna Chalo' agitation against the alleged killings of its workers.

West Bengal: BJP workers set ablaze tires in Howrah during party's state-wide 'Nabanna Chalo' agitation against the alleged killings of its workers. pic.twitter.com/CxWNZ7NayL

— ANI (@ANI) October 8, 2020

 BJP workers also tried to break the police barricade put in place to stop the Party's march.

#WATCH Howrah: BJP workers try to break police barricade put in place to stop the Party's 'Nabanna Chalo' agitation against the alleged killing of party workers in the state; police use tear gas to bring the situation under control.#WestBengal pic.twitter.com/ChQdi0NYXj

— ANI (@ANI) October 8, 2020

 Asked about the risk of holding a protest during a pandemic and associated violation of rules, the BJP's Bengal in-charge Kailash Vijayvargiya said: "All workers are wearing masks. Are rules only for us? Mamata Ji holds demonstrations with thousands and we're being taught lessons of social distancing. Do the same rules not apply to her?"

Didi announced the shutdown in the secretariat for 2 days ahead of Nabana Chalo: Kailash Vijayvargiya The West Bengal government on Wednesday denied permission to BJP Yuva Morcha's 'March to Nabanna' (the secretariat) a day ahead of the protest programme, citing the Pandemic Act and said that peaceful and democratic rallies within "permissible parameters" of only 100 people will be allowed. The home department in communication to BJP Yuva Morcha state general secretary Gobinda Ray and Prakash Das said the rally, slated to be held on Thursday, will not be allowed to march up to the secretariat as it will violate Section 144 Cr PC in force there. The government letter to the Morcha also cited the recent Supreme Court order regarding protest and occupation of sites and public spaces and public ways. It also pointed out the National Disaster Management Act, which has banned gatherings and political rallies by more than 100 people due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Reacting to the letter, BJP state president Dilip Ghosh said these are mere "excuses" to stop BJP and its cadres. Also Watch|WB: Kailash Vijayvargiya sit on protest against Councilor's killing, Police lathi-charge BJP workers