In response to the recent unrest during the Left’s movement in Kolkata on July 24, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and workers organized two large rallies on Monday, carrying national flags. One rally proceeded from Sealdah to Esplanade in central Kolkata, while the other moved from Golpark to Jadavpur in south Kolkata. The Sealdah rally, commencing after 3:30 p.m., was attended by State Minister Tapas Roy, BJP MLA Sajal Ghosh, and party leaders Shankudev Panda and Tamoghna Ghosh, along with several workers.
The BJP representatives emphasized zero tolerance towards anarchy and anti-national activities under the guise of the NEET-UG paper leak movement. They condemned the violence that occurred on July 24, attributing it to troublemakers allegedly supported by CPI(M), Congress, and Trinamool Congress. Calls for severe punishment for the perpetrators were made, with slogans raised in support of the Prime Minister. Tapas Roy highlighted attempts to incite violence and divide the nation through student indoctrination, pointing out historical instances of question paper leaks during the Congress regime.
State Minister Tapas Roy urged the public to boycott individuals fostering chaos and disorder. The protests stemmed from the NEET question paper leak scandal, with demands for the resignation of the then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The procession from Sealdah to Esplanade turned violent, leading to clashes between protesters and police, resulting in the harassment of journalists on duty. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari visited the injured journalists at SSKM Hospital, promising legal action against the perpetrators and ensuring justice for the media personnel.
Following the incidents, the Chief Minister initiated police action, leading to arrests in connection with the journalist harassment and unrest. Kolkata Police sources confirmed the arrest of sixteen individuals, with more expected in the ongoing investigation.
