BJP holds flag rallies in Kolkata against July 24 Left-march unrest
Synopsis
Three days after violence erupted during a Left-led NEET-UG protest in Kolkata, the BJP took to the streets with national flags across two city corridors — and the police have already made 16 arrests. The episode has fused student grievance politics with street-level confrontation, putting the TMC government on the defensive over law and order in Bengal.
Key Takeaways
BJP held two flag-march processions in Kolkata on 27 July — Sealdah to Esplanade and Golpark to Jadavpur — to protest the 24 July unrest.
State Minister Tapas Roy and MLA Sajal Ghosh led the Sealdah march; Ghosh alleged CPI(M) , Congress , and TMC planted agitators.
The 24 July violence broke out during an SFI -led NEET-UG protest march; police used batons after bottles and footwear were thrown; journalists were harassed.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari visited SSKM Hospital on 24 July evening and promised legal action against those who attacked media personnel.
Kolkata Police has arrested 16 people so far, with more arrests expected.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday, 27 July organised two large flag-march processions in Kolkata to protest the violence and disorder that erupted during a Left-led student demonstration on 24 July. The rallies drew party legislators, state ministers, and hundreds of workers, marking the BJP's sharpest street-level response yet to the unrest that shook the city three days earlier.
Two Processions, One Message
The first march set off from Sealdah after 3:30 pm, moving through central Kolkata toward Esplanade. The second ran from Golpark to Jadavpur in south Kolkata. Both processions were led by participants carrying the national flag.
State Minister Tapas Roy, BJP MLA Sajal Ghosh, and party leaders Shankudev Panda and Tamoghna Ghosh were among those present at the Sealdah march. Slogans were raised demanding punishment for those who allegedly disrespected the Prime Minister during the earlier protests.
What BJP Leaders Alleged
MLA Sajal Ghosh alleged that the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)], the Indian National Congress (Congress), and the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) had collectively planted troublemakers who instigated the 24 July violence. The BJP demanded strict punishment for all individuals arrested in connection with the incident.
Minister Tapas Roy said there had been a deliberate attempt to spread violence and communal discord by radicalising students. He also recalled that question papers were allegedly leaked 53 times during Congress-led governments at the Centre, framing the current NEET-UG controversy in a broader historical context. 'It is time that people should boycott those who want to create anarchy,' Roy said.
What Triggered the Unrest on 24 July
On the afternoon of 24 July, the Students' Federation of India (SFI) and allied Leftist student organisations marched from Sealdah to Esplanade, demanding accountability over the NEET-UG question paper leak scandal and the resignation of then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. After the procession reached Esplanade, bottles and footwear were reportedly thrown at police personnel. Officers responded with baton charges. Several journalists covering the event were harassed, with allegations of misconduct against female journalists also surfacing.
Government Response and Arrests
On the evening of 24 July, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari visited SSKM Hospital to meet journalists and photojournalists receiving treatment. He assured legal action and pledged to identify those responsible for attacking media personnel.
Acting on the Chief Minister's directions, Kolkata Police launched a crackdown beginning Saturday, 26 July. According to police sources, 16 people have been arrested so far in connection with the journalist harassment and broader unrest, with further arrests expected.
What Comes Next
The BJP's rallies signal an intent to sustain political pressure on the TMC-led state government over its handling of the 24 July violence. With arrests ongoing and opposition parties trading accusations, the incident is likely to reverberate in the Bengal assembly and beyond in the days ahead.
Point of View
The party is attempting to shift the narrative from a student grievance into a law-and-order and nationalism frame — territory where it is more comfortable. The more telling detail is the 16 arrests: if Kolkata Police moves swiftly and transparently, it defuses the BJP's line of attack; if the crackdown appears selective, it hands the opposition a fresh grievance. The harassment of journalists, particularly female reporters, deserves scrutiny independent of partisan blame-trading — it is a press-freedom issue that neither side has adequately centred.
NationPress
28 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the BJP hold rallies in Kolkata on 27 July?
The BJP organised two flag-march processions in Kolkata on 27 July to protest the violence and disorder that erupted during a Left-led student demonstration on 24 July. Party leaders demanded strict punishment for those arrested and alleged that CPI(M), Congress, and TMC were responsible for instigating the unrest.
What happened during the Left march on 24 July in Kolkata?
On 24 July, the Students' Federation of India (SFI) and allied Leftist groups marched from Sealdah to Esplanade demanding accountability over the NEET-UG paper leak and the resignation of then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. After reaching Esplanade, bottles and footwear were reportedly thrown at police, who responded with batons; several journalists, including female reporters, were allegedly harassed.
How many people have been arrested in connection with the 24 July unrest?
Kolkata Police has arrested 16 people so far in connection with the journalist harassment and broader unrest, according to police sources. Further arrests are expected as the crackdown, launched on 26 July on Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari's directions, continues.
What did Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari say about the violence?
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari visited SSKM Hospital on the evening of 24 July to meet journalists and photojournalists undergoing treatment. He assured legal action and pledged to identify and prosecute those responsible for attacking media personnel.
What is the NEET-UG paper leak controversy?
The NEET-UG paper leak scandal refers to allegations that question papers for India's undergraduate medical entrance examination were leaked before the exam, triggering nationwide protests. Student groups have demanded accountability from the Centre, and the controversy led to calls for the resignation of then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
