The platform had been set up as part of the TMC’s protest against alleged atrocities on Bengali-speaking migrant workers in states ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Speaking to the reporters, Mamata alleged that BJP’s vendetta politics was the reason behind the move, calling it “unethical, and undemocratic,” reported news agency PTI.
“I do not blame the Army, but the BJP’s vendetta politics is behind it. The double-engine government of the BJP is to be blamed. They are misusing the Army. This is unethical, undemocratic,” Banerjee said.
She further said that the Army should have consulted the Kolkata Police before dismantling the stage. “They could have called me and I would have removed the stage within a few minutes.”
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“I don’t blame the Army, just appeal to them to remain neutral and not play in the hands of the BJP,” she added.
Defence official cites permission rulesÂ
According to a defence statement cited by PTI, the Local Military Authority in Kolkata issues permission for events in the Maidan region for only two days, in line with the Supreme Court directive. Any request to hold events beyond three days must be approved by the Ministry of Defence.
“Permission for conduct of events was provided for two days. However, the stage has been put up for almost a month. Several reminders have been sent to the organisers for the removal of the temporary structure. However, it was not removed,” the defence official was quoted as saying by PTI.
TMC calls the actions “political tyranny”Â
The TMC said that the party held the Indian Army in the highest regard but described the demolition as “undemocratic” and as an act of “political tyranny”.
“Bengal has always revered the custodians of our nation. But what unfolded at Mayo Road was nothing short of political tyranny. A peaceful protest, born from love for our mother tongue, was torn down at the orders of Delhi’s frightened zamindars,” the party said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter).
“It is the UNDEMOCRATIC, UNCONSTITUTIONAL STRONG-ARM tactics of a rattled party that knows it cannot win Bengal’s trust. BJP thinks they can silence us by deploying boots against voices, but Bengal has never bowed to bullies – whether in colonial times or under today’s Delhi Zamindars,” the party said in another statement.
