A day after violent clashes erupted during the ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ rally in Kolkata, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee dedicated the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) Foundation Day to a victim from the RG Kar Medical College incident. This decision, intended to express solidarity with victims of violence, quickly turned into a political flashpoint as senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari accused Banerjee of politicizing the event and disregarding the original founders of the party’s student wing.
Expressing her sorrow for women subjected to violence across the nation, Banerjee offered her condolences to the family of a trainee doctor whose alleged rape and murder has triggered widespread protests in Kolkata and beyond. “Today, I dedicate Trinamool Chhatra Parishad Foundation Day to our sister, whose tragic loss at RG Kar hospital we mourned a few days ago… Sorry,” Banerjee said on social media. She emphasized the need for swift justice for the victim and highlighted the critical role of youth in fostering societal change.
In response, Suvendu Adhikari accused Banerjee of using the TMCP Foundation Day to divert attention from her government’s failures. “Today is not the establishment day of the Trinamool Student Council, but the imitation day!” Adhikari posted on X, formerly Twitter. He alleged that Banerjee has stifled democratic processes within student councils by preventing elections for nine years to avoid criticism of her administration.
Adhikari’s critique comes in the wake of the arrest of Sayan Lahiri, a leader of the unregistered student group ‘Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj,’ following the violent clashes during the Nabanna rally. The police have charged Lahiri and 125 others, including 33 women, with rioting and conspiracy. The rally, organized to protest against the state government, saw police use teargas and batons to disperse participants marching towards the Kolkata Police headquarters.
This incident underscores the escalating tensions between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the BJP in West Bengal, particularly over issues of governance, corruption, and the administration’s handling of law and order. The political landscape in the state continues to be deeply polarized, with both parties trading accusations and mobilizing their bases in response to recent events.
Banerjee and her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee, who serves as the TMC’s national general secretary, are expected to address TMCP members later today to reinforce their commitment to justice and social reform in light of recent events.
