The BJP has announced a 12-hour bandh (strike) from 6 am to 6 pm in West Bengal to protest police actions against those participating in a march to the state secretariat ‘Nabanna’. The protest was organized in response to the rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor in Kolkata.

Here are the main points about the West Bengal bandh:

1. Police Action: The strike follows a confrontation on Tuesday, where police used lathi-charges, water cannons, and tear gas to disperse protesters who were trying to reach ‘Nabanna’. The protestors were demanding the resignation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the brutal incident involving a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.
2. Organizers and Allegations: The protest, known as ‘Nabanna Abhijan’, was organized by the unregistered student group ‘Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj’ and the dissident state government employees’ group ‘Sangrami Joutha Mancha’. The ruling Trinamool Congress has accused the BJP of backing the protest for political gain.
3. Injuries and Reactions: Senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari claimed that over 160 protesters, including 17 women, were injured in the police action. The police reported that several officers were also hurt in the clashes. Adhikari, who is the Leader of Opposition in the state, has called on Governor CV Ananda Bose to consider imposing President’s Rule in West Bengal.
4. BJP’s Statement: BJP state president and Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar criticized the state government, accusing it of ignoring public outcry and turning a “deaf ear” to demands for justice. He claimed that the strike was necessary due to the government’s failure to ensure women’s safety.
5. State Government Response: The West Bengal government has urged citizens to ignore the bandh call, emphasizing that normal life should continue unaffected. Chief Advisor to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Alapan Bandopadhyay, assured that all government offices would remain open, and employees are expected to report for duty unless on leave or facing emergencies.
6. Trinamool’s Stance: The Trinamool Congress dismissed the BJP’s bandh as a political maneuver and declared that there would be no bandh on Wednesday.
7. Nationwide Outrage: The rape and murder of the 31-year-old doctor on August 9 has sparked widespread outrage across India. Junior doctors have refused to attend to non-emergency cases in many regions, demanding justice for the victim and enhanced safety measures for women in healthcare settings.