‘Like home arrest’: Mamata Banerjee alleges ‘police watch’; accuses cops of appearing like ‘BJP cadres’ | India Information
NEW DELHI: Former West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday alleged that she was saved ‘below police watch’ as if she was below ‘home arrest’ and accused the police of violating a Calcutta excessive court docket order by failing to make sure the peaceable conduct of a protest march over the alleged rape and homicide of a 12-year-old woman in Baruipur.Addressing get together staff throughout the protest rally in Kolkata, Mamata stated she was ‘not blaming the BJP’ however the administration for allegedly failing to take care of legislation and order regardless of the court docket’s permission for the march. “I’m not blaming the BJP; I’m blaming the administration. They need to have taken ethical accountability in order that we may have held the rally peacefully. As a substitute, they allowed BJP staff, who beat our staff,” she stated.Her remarks got here a day after the Calcutta excessive court docket allowed the Trinamool Youth Congress to carry the rally after setting apart a Kolkata Police communication denying permission.The excessive court docket had permitted the march with a number of situations, together with a revised route, restricted timings, a cap of 1,000 members, no loudspeakers, use of handheld microphones and holding one facet of the street open for site visitors.The protest was organised over the alleged rape and homicide of the minor woman in Baruipur, an incident that has sparked widespread outrage in West Bengal.Claiming that girls protesters had been additionally attacked, Mamata added, “Ladies had been overwhelmed. We had the court docket’s order. The BJP threatened us this morning as properly… The police have grow to be BJP cadres.”She additional questioned the police’s dealing with of the protest, saying, “The Calcutta excessive court docket allowed our rally, however BJP goons stopped it. How can the police undermine the court docket order permitting the TMC rally? BJP goons beat up our staff throughout the protest march.”The TMC chief additionally alleged that she was being prevented from finishing up political actions.“I’m being saved below police watch as if I’m below home arrest,” she stated, including that the “West Bengal Police have grow to be an arm of the BJP.”Addressing the gathering, Mamata additionally accused the police of failing to behave the place crimes in opposition to ladies had been happening.“Everyone knows the way you got here to energy… the police are holding a watch on us right here, but they’re nowhere to be discovered the place atrocities in opposition to ladies are happening. Rampage and chaos are unfolding throughout the whole space, from Kalighat and my residence to Ballygunge. Is that this the ‘change’ the individuals of Bengal wished?” she stated.She stated the rally had been held solely after acquiring permission from the excessive court docket however alleged that members had been attacked regardless of the court docket’s order.“We now have to hunt court docket permission for rallies. We held the rally after acquiring court docket approval, but you noticed how individuals had been attacked. Those that loot cash within the identify of Ram must be ashamed… don’t tarnish the identify of Ram,” Mamata stated.Alleging a breakdown of legislation and order, TMC chief stated, “Regulation and order right here has utterly collapsed—the state of affairs is worse than even that of Uttar Pradesh. How did the police violate the Excessive Courtroom’s approval for the rally? This quantities to contempt of court docket. They’ve failed to offer safety to the individuals. They merely assault our staff; I condemn the BJP.”The controversy comes amid political tensions over the Baruipur case. The sufferer’s physique was recovered from a pond on July 5 after she allegedly went lacking a day earlier. Police have alleged that the minor was gang-raped, murdered and her physique stuffed right into a sack earlier than being dumped within the water. The incident triggered widespread protests, whereas the investigation took one other activate Wednesday after one of many essential accused was killed in a police encounter throughout a criminal offense scene reconstruction train. Opposition events, together with leaders from the TMC, have questioned the encounter and demanded accountability.
