Mamata Banerjee faces BJP protest slogans at Shyambazar, days after Bijpur incident
Synopsis
Two days after BJP workers hurled mud and a slipper at her car in Kanchrapara, Mamata Banerjee faced fresh 'thief' slogans at Shyambazar while paying tribute to Netaji — a sign that West Bengal's street-level political war between TMC and BJP is intensifying well beyond the legislature.
Key Takeaways
Mamata Banerjee faced 'thief' slogans from BJP activists at Shyambazar , North Kolkata , on 11 August .
The protest came two days after a more confrontational incident in Kanchrapara , where demonstrators surrounded her car and hurled mud and a slipper.
The Kanchrapara visit was prompted by the alleged death of a TMC worker in police custody in North 24 Parganas .
Police quickly controlled the situation at Shyambazar; Banerjee left the spot without incident.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said on Monday that security would be ensured if Banerjee informed police of her visits in advance.
All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee faced protest slogans from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) activists at Shyambazar five-point crossing in North Kolkata on Tuesday, 11 August, just two days after she was targeted by BJP workers during a visit to Kanchrapara in North 24 Parganas district.
What Happened at Shyambazar
Banerjee had arrived at Shyambazar to garland the statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. The ceremony itself passed off peacefully, with no disruption while she paid her respects. However, as she prepared to leave, a group of BJP activists assembled nearby and began shouting slogans calling her a 'thief'. Tension briefly escalated before a large police contingent moved in and restored order. Banerjee departed the spot shortly after.
Tuesday's demonstration was notably less intense than the Sunday incident at Kanchrapara, where protesters surrounded her vehicle, hurled mud and a torn slipper, and raised similar slogans. The Kanchrapara visit had been prompted by the alleged death of a TMC worker in police custody.
Mamata's Attack on BJP
Before the sloganeering began, Banerjee launched a sharp verbal counter-offensive against the BJP, accusing the party of insulting legendary freedom fighters, including Netaji himself. The remarks drew a clear contrast between her tribute to the nationalist icon and what she characterised as the BJP's disrespect for India's independence movement.
What the BJP Said
'We did not raise any slogan or display any demonstration while the former Chief Minister was garlanding the statue of Netaji. But after that we just called her a thief. There is nothing wrong in that,' a protesting BJP supporter said.
Security and the Bijpur Backdrop
On Monday, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari stated that there would be no negligence in ensuring Banerjee's security, adding that proper arrangements would be made provided she informed the police of her movements in advance. The remark was widely read as a veiled dig at Banerjee's unannounced visits, which have repeatedly drawn confrontations.
This comes amid a broader pattern of street-level political friction in West Bengal following the Bijpur custody-death controversy, which has sharpened tensions between the TMC and BJP. With both parties escalating rhetoric ahead of local political cycles, confrontations of this nature are unlikely to remain isolated incidents.
Point of View
And Banerjee's unannounced visits — however politically calculated — keep creating flashpoints that her own party cannot fully manage. Chief Minister Adhikari's security comment, framed as concern, is also a trap: it frames Banerjee as a law-and-order liability in her own state. What mainstream coverage underplays is the institutional signal — a former chief minister being targeted twice in 48 hours reflects a breakdown in the political norms that once governed intra-party competition in Bengal.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Mamata Banerjee protested against at Shyambazar?
BJP activists shouted 'thief' slogans at Mamata Banerjee on 11 August as she was leaving after garlanding the statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at Shyambazar in North Kolkata. The protest followed a more violent confrontation two days earlier in Kanchrapara, where she had visited the family of a TMC worker who allegedly died in police custody.
What happened during the Kanchrapara incident involving Mamata Banerjee?
On Sunday, BJP workers surrounded Mamata Banerjee's car in Kanchrapara, North 24 Parganas, hurling mud and a torn slipper at the vehicle and shouting slogans. She had gone there to meet the family of a Trinamool Congress worker who allegedly died in police custody.
What did West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari say about Mamata's security?
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said on Monday that there would be no negligence in ensuring Mamata Banerjee's security, but added that proper arrangements could only be made if she informed police about her visits in advance.
Who is Suvendu Adhikari?
Suvendu Adhikari is the current Chief Minister of West Bengal and a senior BJP leader. He is also Mamata Banerjee's predecessor in the state's top office, having led the BJP to victory in West Bengal.
Is the Shyambazar protest connected to the Bijpur custody-death case?
Yes. The broader context for both protests is the alleged death of a TMC worker in police custody in the Bijpur-Kanchrapara area of North 24 Parganas. Banerjee's visit to the deceased worker's family triggered the Kanchrapara confrontation, and the political tensions from that episode carried over to the Shyambazar demonstration two days later.
