Won't allow BJP's Bengal Bandh: Mamata Govt urges people to fail the strike

The West Bengal government on Tuesday strongly urged citizens not to participate in the 12-hour Bengal bandh called by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in response to the alleged police brutality during the Nabanna Abhijaan protest. The bandh is scheduled for Wednesday and comes after widespread unrest following the Kolkata police's forceful measures against the protesting students of the Paschimbanga Chattro Samaj.

Chief Advisor to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Alapan Bandopadhyay, made a public appeal, emphasizing that the government will not permit the state-wide shutdown initiated by the BJP. The bandh was called after videos surfaced showing the Kolkata police using lathi charges and water cannons to disperse protestors who were marching towards Nabanna, demanding the resignation of the Chief Minister and justice for the trainee doctor who was raped and murdered at R.G. Kar Medical College.

Bandopadhyay reassured the public that the government would take all necessary steps to ensure that normal life is not disrupted. "The government will not allow any bandh on Wednesday. We urge people not to participate in it. All steps shall be taken to ensure that normal life is unaffected," he stated.

The BJP's call for the bandh is seen as a direct challenge to the Mamata Banerjee-led government, which has been under intense scrutiny following the tragic incident at R.G. Kar Hospital and the subsequent handling of the Nabanna Abhijaan protests. The bandh is expected to further escalate the ongoing political tensions in the state.