The West Bengal government on Tuesday urged residents to disregard the BJP’s call for a 12-hour general strike on August 28, promising that steps will be taken to ensure normalcy.
The BJP has announced the strike from 6 am to 6 pm to protest against police action taken against those who participated in a march to the state secretariat, Nabanna, earlier in the day. The protestors were demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the recent rape-murder of a doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.
Also Read:Bengal Bandh 2024: BJP announces 12-hour bandh in West Bengal over Kolkata rape and murder case
Alapan Bandopadhyay, chief advisor to Banerjee, said, “the government will not allow any bandh on Wednesday. We urge people not to participate in it. All steps shall be taken to ensure that normal life is unaffected.”
He added that transport services will remain operational and that shops, markets, and other businesses have been instructed to stay open. Bandopadhyay also called on state government employees to attend work as usual.
Police used batons, tear gas, and water cannons to disperse the protesters, who were attempting to reach Nabanna.
Also Read:Nabanna rally: Protestors pelt stones, break barricades; police resort to tear gas, water cannons
Why is the bandh called?
The BJP has called for the bandh to protest what it views as the government’s inadequate response to a severe crime. BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar has slammed the Trinamool Congress (TMC) for allegedly suppressing student protests and accused the Left parties of tacitly supporting the government by not participating in the demonstrations.
Majumdar has urged the public to join the bandh to show solidarity with the victim and to oppose what he describes as the “politics of suppression” in Bengal. He argues that the government’s failure to address the issue effectively has fueled unrest and worsened the situation.