Major showdown in Kolkata: Clashes erupt as cops block BJP’s march to Mamata Banerjee's office

Clashes broke out between BJP workers and the West Bengal Police in Kolkata on Thursday as the party workers tried to break through barricades during their march towards Bengal secretariat 'Nabanna'.

Thousands of BJP workers from Kolkata and Howrah began marching towards Nabanna to protest the "worsening" law and order in the state on Thursday afternoon. The Bengal police, however, blocked the march and the police personnel resorted to lathi-charge, used tear gas and water cannons on BJP workers at Santragachi in Howrah district.

"The police is lathi charging our people...stone-pelting being done from Khidirpur side. Can't the police see that?" BJP leader Locket Chatterjee was quoted as saying by news agency ANISeveral BJP leaders, including BJP state vice- president Raju Banerjee and MP Jyotirmoy Singh Mahato, have reportedly been injured.

Chaotic scenes were witnessed as BJP workers retaliated by hurling stones at cops. Following Bengal police crackdown, BJP workers also set ablaze tires in Howrah during party's state-wide agitation in Kolkata.On BJP’s holding a big march even as the state is battling coronavirus pandemic, BJP leader 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?” Kailash Vijayvargiya asked.BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya claimed, “We are protesting democratically, but Mamata ji has tried to turn our peaceful demonstration into a violent protest. Goons along with police hurled stones at us.”

The BJP, however, later called of their protest after two hours. A BJP leader told India Today that the party decided to suspend the march for the day, while adding that the massive protests will be seen in days to come.

The West Bengal government had earlier cited the Covid-19 pandemic to deny permission for the BJP youth wing's ‘March to Nabanna’. The Mamata Banerjee-led government said peaceful and democratic rallies within "permissible parameters" of only 100 people would be allowed.

The government also announced that Nabanna, the state secretariat building in Howrah, will be closed for a two-day sanitisation exercise.

Mamata-led govt shut Nabanna out of fear: Tejasvi Surya

The decision to shut down Nabanna on working days had drawn condemnation from the BJP leadership, which termed the decision as a "reflection of TMC's fear.

BJP Yuva Morcha's president Tejasvi Surya alleged that the Mamata Banerjee government shut Nabanna out of fear.

Addressing a press conference, Tejasvi Surya said on Wednesday, "Mamata didi is afraid. I have learnt that she has closed the CMO. This is the sign of a real 'paribartan' (change) in Bengal and this is being led by the patriotic youth of the state and the rest of the country is with them."

Tejasvi Surya said the Bengal government was citing the Covid-19 situation to deny permission for the BJYM march, but the Trinamool Congress supremo had herself led a rally against the farm bills a couple of days ago.

"Are there one set of rules for the TMC and another for other parties?" Tejasvi Surya had asked.

"Mamata ji is a living example of what a Fascist government looks like," Surya had said.

On the closure of Nabanna for two days, Tejasvi Surya had claimed that the state secretariat has been closed in all practical terms since Mamata Banerjee took over as chief minister.