BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari faced a roadblock on Thursday as Kolkata Police prevented him from entering the Raj Bhavan to meet West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose. Adhikari, accompanied by alleged victims of post-poll violence, was stopped under Section 144 of the CrPC, which restricts large gatherings outside the Governor’s House.
Adhikari, who serves as the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, expressed his dismay to media persons, stating that he would seek redress from the Calcutta High Court against what he termed the Kolkata Police’s "arbitrary" decision.
The BJP leader intended to present the Governor with the grievances of those claiming to be victims of violence following the recent elections. Upon arriving at the Raj Bhavan, Adhikari’s convoy was halted, and he was informed that Section 144 was in effect.
Frustrated, Adhikari remarked, “I have waited for more than one hour, but the police are not allowing us inside. The Governor had given me an appointment, and the police had the audacity to violate his instructions. I also communicated with the Governor’s office. As the police have stopped me from entering the Raj Bhavan premises, the Governor’s ADC told me that a report has been sought from the state government.”
Adhikari made it clear that his visit did not constitute a rally, noting, “We were not conducting any rally here. We have brought around 200 victims of post-poll violence, whom the Governor allowed to come to Raj Bhavan.”
“We have also got a considerable amount of votes and 12 Lok Sabha seats in Bengal. The TMC government cannot behave in such an authoritarian style that they are not allowing us to enter the Raj Bhavan as the police look after the premises outside the Governor’s House,” he said adding that he was determined to challenge the police's actions legally.
Another BJP leader echoed Adhikari's sentiment, accusing the police of double standards. “We fail to understand how there are two sets of rules. Last year, Abhishek Banerjee organized a sit-in outside Raj Bhavan. There was no Sec 144 violation at that time, but as we want to meet the Governor, there is a violation of prohibitory orders,” the BJP leader said.
The BJP has consistently accused the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) of orchestrating post-poll violence, claims that the TMC has denied.
TMC leader Kunal Ghosh countered these allegations, stating, "Allegations of TMC unleashing post-poll violence are completely wrong. It is the other way around. TMC workers have been attacked, beaten up, and also killed in areas where the BJP has won the election. In Purba Medinipur district's Khejuri, our party workers have been beaten up and rendered homeless."
Under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee, the Trinamool Congress secured 29 out of 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal. In contrast, the BJP experienced a significant decline, dropping to 12 seats from the 18 it won in 2019.
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