'Like house arrest': Mamata Banerjee alleges 'police watch'; accuses cops of acting like 'BJP cadres'
NEW DELHI: NEW DELHI: Former West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday alleged that she was kept 'under police watch' as if she were under 'house arrest' ahead of a protest march over the alleged rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in Baruipur.
She also accused the police of violating a Calcutta high court order by failing to ensure the rally was conducted peacefully.
Addressing party workers during the protest rally in Kolkata, Mamata said she was 'not blaming the BJP' but the administration for allegedly failing to maintain law and order despite the court's permission for the march.
"I am not blaming the BJP; I am blaming the administration. They should have taken moral responsibility so that we could have held the rally peacefully. Instead, they allowed BJP workers, who beat our workers," she said.
Her remarks came a day after the Calcutta high court allowed the Trinamool Youth Congress to hold the rally after setting aside a Kolkata Police communication denying permission.
The high court had permitted the march with several conditions, including a revised route, restricted timings, a cap of 1,000 participants, no loudspeakers, use of handheld microphones and keeping one side of the road open for traffic.
The protest was organised over the alleged rape and murder of the minor girl in Baruipur, an incident that has sparked widespread outrage in West Bengal.
Claiming that women protesters were also attacked, Mamata added, "Women were beaten. We had the court's order. The BJP threatened us this morning as well... The police have become BJP cadres."
She further questioned the police's handling of the protest, saying, "The Calcutta high court allowed our rally, but BJP goons stopped it. How can the police undermine the court order allowing the TMC rally? BJP goons beat up our workers during the protest march."
The TMC chief also alleged that she was being prevented from carrying out political activities.
"I am being kept under police watch as if I am under house arrest," she said, adding that the "West Bengal Police have become an arm of the BJP."
Addressing the gathering, Mamata also accused the police of failing to act where crimes against women were taking place.
"We all know how you came to power... the police are keeping a watch on us here, yet they are nowhere to be found where atrocities against women are taking place. Rampage and chaos are unfolding across the entire area, from Kalighat and my residence to Ballygunge. Is this the 'change' the people of Bengal wanted?" she said.
She said the rally had been held only after obtaining permission from the high court but alleged that participants were attacked despite the court's order.
She also accused the police of violating a Calcutta high court order by failing to ensure the rally was conducted peacefully.
Addressing party workers during the protest rally in Kolkata, Mamata said she was 'not blaming the BJP' but the administration for allegedly failing to maintain law and order despite the court's permission for the march.
"I am not blaming the BJP; I am blaming the administration. They should have taken moral responsibility so that we could have held the rally peacefully. Instead, they allowed BJP workers, who beat our workers," she said.
Her remarks came a day after the Calcutta high court allowed the Trinamool Youth Congress to hold the rally after setting aside a Kolkata Police communication denying permission.
The high court had permitted the march with several conditions, including a revised route, restricted timings, a cap of 1,000 participants, no loudspeakers, use of handheld microphones and keeping one side of the road open for traffic.
The protest was organised over the alleged rape and murder of the minor girl in Baruipur, an incident that has sparked widespread outrage in West Bengal.
Claiming that women protesters were also attacked, Mamata added, "Women were beaten. We had the court's order. The BJP threatened us this morning as well... The police have become BJP cadres."
She further questioned the police's handling of the protest, saying, "The Calcutta high court allowed our rally, but BJP goons stopped it. How can the police undermine the court order allowing the TMC rally? BJP goons beat up our workers during the protest march."
The TMC chief also alleged that she was being prevented from carrying out political activities.
"I am being kept under police watch as if I am under house arrest," she said, adding that the "West Bengal Police have become an arm of the BJP."
Addressing the gathering, Mamata also accused the police of failing to act where crimes against women were taking place.
"We all know how you came to power... the police are keeping a watch on us here, yet they are nowhere to be found where atrocities against women are taking place. Rampage and chaos are unfolding across the entire area, from Kalighat and my residence to Ballygunge. Is this the 'change' the people of Bengal wanted?" she said.
She said the rally had been held only after obtaining permission from the high court but alleged that participants were attacked despite the court's order.
Next Story