Political friction in West Bengal escalated sharply on Friday following a high-voltage confrontation surrounding the signboard removal at an office located on Camac Street. Addressing the foundation day rally of the TMC Chhatra Parishad, former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee fiercely criticized the ongoing police and administrative actions. She asserted that attempts to suppress the voice of the public and intimidate young party supporters using police machinery would fail. Declaring herself a relentless fighter, Banerjee stated that she would resist all oppressive measures and counter political adversaries with complete strength.
Mamata Banerjee Questions Camac Street Operation and Addresses Allegations
During her address, former CM Mamata Banerjee raised direct questions regarding the midnight intervention at the Camac Street office, asking why police personnel arrived carrying gas cutters. She alleged that items had already been taken from the premises previously and questioned the intention behind the repeated raids. Addressing allegations concerning the theft of books, Banerjee issued an open challenge, stating that anyone accusing her must present concrete proof or issue an unconditional apology. She emphasized that being out of power does not reduce anyone to taking books from a library, adding that she retains the capacity to build numerous such libraries herself.
Abhishek Banerjee Issues Warning and Clarifies Organizational Stance
Following Mamata Banerjee, MP Abhishek Banerjee took the stage to condemn the administrative conduct, cautioning that power is never permanent and political circumstances shift over time. He advised those relying on current administrative backing to re-evaluate their positions. Turning to internal party dynamics and making reference to the faction associated with Ritabrata Banerjee, Abhishek Banerjee firmly stated that Mamata Banerjee remains the undisputed leader of Bengal. He made it clear that individuals who acted against the party's interests would not be readmitted into the organization under any circumstances.
Kolkata Police Action, Scuffle on Stairs, and Legal Escalation
The controversy originated on Thursday night when a combined team from the Kolkata Police and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation visited Abhishek Banerjee's Camac Street office to remove a signboard deemed unauthorized. The intervention sparked immediate resistance from party leaders and workers present at the site. During the commotion, MP Derek O'Brien staged a protest on the office staircase, where he was pushed down amidst the scuffle. Abhishek Banerjee subsequently arrived at the location, engaged in a heated argument with municipal officials, and attempted to halt the removal, though the municipal team ultimately dismantled the signboard.
Following the event, MP Derek O'Brien characterized the municipal notice as completely illegal, highlighting that it lacked official signatures and necessary execution details. He remarked that he had never witnessed such police behavior throughout his political career. In the aftermath of the scuffle, Kolkata Police registered 3 separate FIRs naming Abhishek Banerjee, Derek O'Brien, and several prominent party leaders, while 13 individuals were taken into custody.
CM Suvendu Adhikari Orders Fresh Legal Proceedings for Court Order Violation
In response to the allegations leveled by the opposition, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced decisive legal countermeasures. CM Suvendu Adhikari stated that the organizers of the TMC Chhatra Parishad event violated explicit judicial directions requiring public thoroughfares to remain unobstructed. He pointed out that despite judicial mandates to keep the surrounding roads clear, the entire passage was completely blocked during the rally. Stating that non-compliance with court orders would draw strict consequences, Suvendu Adhikari instructed the police to register a fresh FIR against former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
