GG News Bureau
Kolkata, 29th August :Former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has found herself at the center of fresh controversy after Kolkata Police registered a suo motu FIR against her for allegedly violating a Calcutta High Court order during the Trinamool Congress (TMC) students’ wing (TMCP) rally on Friday. The high court had permitted Banerjee to celebrate TMCP’s foundation day on Cathedral Road but had specifically ordered that one flank of the road remain open and that the event conclude within a set time limit.
According to Kolkata Police, the rally breached both major conditions set by the court. Firstly, the event ran past the court-mandated time, and secondly, the rally blocked the entire road, impeding public movement and failing to uphold the “keep one flank open” directive. An FIR has been registered at the Hastings Police Station against both Banerjee and the TMCP rally organisers. Investigators are now scrutinizing the roles of all those involved in the violation.
During the rally, Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP of turning the police into an instrument of fear in Bengal, contrasting it with her own tenure when, according to her, the police were more humane. She pledged to end “police atrocities” against her supporters, vowing to take to the streets if her public meetings are disallowed. Banerjee went on to allege that the BJP “hijacked” the last assembly elections via the Election Commission and manipulated voter rolls to their advantage.
This police action and FIR have reignited debates about administrative permissions for rallies, use of public spaces, and rule of law in West Bengal. Kolkata Police have stated that a thorough and impartial investigation will be conducted, and strict action will be taken against all those found responsible for violating the court’s order.
This incident underscores the ongoing political tensions and the challenge of balancing political mobilization with legal and civic order in the state.
