Mamata accuses BJP of abuse of power as army removes TMC protest scene in Kolkata

Tensions erupted in the Maidan area of ​​central Kolkata on Monday, September 1, after Indian soldiers dismantled a stage erected by the Trinamool Congress (TMC). West Bengal CM and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee quickly reached the site and condemned the actions, alleging interference by the BJP and “abuse” of power.

The platform had been created as part of the TMC’s protest against alleged atrocities committed against Bengali-speaking migrant workers in Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled states.

Speaking to reporters, Mamata claimed that the BJP’s vendetta politics was the reason behind the move, calling it “unethical and undemocratic”, news agency PTI reported.

“I am not blaming the army, but the BJP’s vendetta politics is behind all this. The twin-engine BJP government is to blame. They are misusing the army. It is unethical and undemocratic,” Banerjee said.

She further said that the Army should have consulted the Calcutta Police before dismantling the scene. “They could have called me and I would have removed the scene within minutes.”

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“I am not blaming the army, I am just asking them to remain neutral and not play into the hands of the BJP,” she added.

Defense official cites clearance rules

According to a defense statement cited by PTI, the local military authority in Kolkata is allowing events in the Maidan area for only two days, as per the Supreme Court’s directive. Any request to hold events beyond three days must be approved by the Ministry of Defense.

“Permission to hold events was granted for two days. However, the stage was installed for almost a month. Several reminders were sent to the organizers for removal of the temporary structure. However, it was not removed,” the defense official was quoted as saying by PTI.

TMC calls these actions “political tyranny”

The TMC said the party held the Indian Army in the highest esteem, but called the demolition “undemocratic” and an act of “political tyranny”.

“Bengal has always revered the guardians of our nation. But what happened at Mayo Road was nothing short of political tyranny. A peaceful protest, born out of love for our mother tongue, was suppressed on the orders of the frightened zamindars of Delhi,” the party said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter).

“This is the undemocratic and unconstitutional tactic of a shaken party that knows it cannot win the trust of Bengal. The BJP thinks it can silence us by deploying boots on votes, but Bengal has never given in to tyrants – whether in the colonial era or under today’s Delhi Zamindars,” the party said in another statement.