The Trinamool Congress faction, loyal to Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee, plans to contest the Kolkata Police’s decision to impose prohibitory orders in central Kolkata for the annual Martyrs’ Day event on July 21. This year, the Kolkata Police has disallowed the event near the CESC House at Esplanade crossing. Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita has been invoked to limit gatherings in that area.
The dissenting Trinamool Congress group is yet to respond to the police directive, while leaders from the opposing faction have expressed intentions to challenge the decision legally and politically. Kalyan Banerjee, a senior advocate and prominent member of the minority faction, criticized the imposition of Section 163 over an extended period, labeling it as unlawful. He emphasized the importance of democratic rights and vowed to pursue legal action against the order.
Kalyan Banerjee’s stance was echoed by Mahua Moitra, another party member, who expressed confidence in the judiciary to address what she perceives as undemocratic actions by the state administration. The Martyrs’ Day rally, traditionally held in front of CESC House, has been a longstanding event for the Trinamool Congress, commemorating the 1993 tragedy involving 13 youth Congress workers during the CPI(M)-led Left Front rule.
