Adhikari pointed out that the protest had drawn participation from a wide spectrum of people
Suvendu Adhikari claimed that thousands had already gathered across key points in the city, with crowds at Howrah station, and many more at Dorina Crossing in Kolkata.
Senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday led a ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ march to the West Bengal state secretariat to mark one year since the RG Kar incident, reported PTI.
He accused the Mamata Banerjee-led government of trying to suppress the protest through intimidation and by imposing excessive restrictions, even as the administration tightened security to stop agitators from reaching the destination.
Marking the first anniversary of the rape and murder of a woman doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Adhikari and BJP workers observed Raksha Bandhan in a unique way, without distributing sweets, as a sign of their protest, reported PTI.
Speaking to reporters near the state assembly before joining the march, Adhikari said that around 20 BJP MLAs had gathered at the spot. They planned to proceed to Dorina Crossing, where they would join the parents of the RG Kar victim in the protest.
He clarified that the Nabanna Abhijan was not a political rally initiated by the BJP, but an agitation called by the murdered doctor’s parents.
As reported by PTI, Adhikari pointed out that the protest had drawn participation from a wide spectrum of people, including members of the SUCI, women’s groups, and sadhus from different monasteries and temples, in addition to BJP workers.
He claimed that thousands had already gathered across key points in the city, with crowds at Howrah station, over 5,000 in Santragachi, and many more at Dorina Crossing in Kolkata.
On the issue of permissions, Adhikari maintained that the protest had the necessary approvals. He criticised the authorities for what he described as “extremely low-grade, narrow-mindedness” and questioned the placement of barricades far away from Nabanna’s main road, despite repeated Calcutta High Court rulings upholding the right to peaceful protest, reported PTI.
Appealing for calm, he told protesters not to engage in arguments or disorder with regular police personnel, calling them “our friends” who “all want change.”
While acknowledging the possibility of police using water cannons, tear gas, bullets, or making arrests, Adhikari said such actions would not dampen the spirit of the protesters, reported PTI.
Underscoring that his role as Leader of the Opposition was beyond party lines, Adhikari said, “My responsibility is to speak for anyone oppressed by the state government and the ruling party, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, supporters of CPI(M), Congress, BJP, or a non-political person; journalist or lawyer. I am not doing politics; I am protesting.”
Explaining the plan for the march, he instructed participants to remain calm and non-violent. “If we are stopped, we will sit down and protest,” he said, adding that neither he nor the BJP MLAs would be the main speakers at the event, reported PTI.
Instead, he said the parents of the deceased doctor would be the ones to address the gathering if they were allowed to use a microphone. He reiterated that the protest would remain peaceful and that there would be no attempt to provoke any confrontation.
(Inputs from PTI)
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
