Saugata Roy faces BJP protest, black flags at Kolkata airport
Synopsis
For the second time in months, TMC MP Saugata Roy was encircled by protesters — this time at Kolkata's Netaji airport — as BJP workers waved black flags and chanted 'thief, thief.' Police had to intervene to get him out. The pattern of public confrontations signals a deepening BJP pressure campaign targeting TMC representatives in their own constituencies.
Key Takeaways
Saugata Roy , TMC Lok Sabha MP from Dum Dum , was surrounded by BJP workers and protesters outside Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport , Kolkata, on 18 August .
Protesters waved black flags , showed shoes, and chanted 'Go back' and 'Thief, thief' as his car was blocked.
Airport authorities and police intervened to escort Roy to safety.
Roy had arrived for a meeting at the Airport Authority office in his capacity as the Dum Dum constituency MP.
A similar protest — involving egg-throwing and 'thief' slogans — had occurred in Nimta, North 24 Parganas , in late May this year.
BJP MLA Arijit Bakshi accused Roy of neglecting constituents and called on him to resign.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) Lok Sabha MP Saugata Roy was confronted by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers and a section of local residents outside Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport near Kolkata on Tuesday, 18 August, with protesters surrounding his vehicle, waving black flags, and raising slogans of 'Go back' and 'Thief, thief.' Airport authorities and police eventually intervened to escort the veteran MP to safety.
What Triggered the Confrontation
Saugata Roy, who represents the Dum Dum Lok Sabha constituency, had arrived at the airport for a meeting at the Airport Authority office. As soon as his vehicle reached the premises, a mob — which included BJP workers and supporters, according to reports — encircled the car and demanded that he leave. Roy reportedly lowered his window in an attempt to address the crowd, but protesters refused to engage. Police and airport security personnel subsequently escorted him out of the situation.
A Pattern of Protests Against the TMC MP
This is not the first time Saugata Roy has faced such hostility. In late May this year, an agitated crowd surrounded him in the Nimta area of North 24 Parganas district, where eggs were thrown at him and similar 'thief' slogans were raised. Roy had alleged that BJP workers were behind that incident as well. Tuesday's episode at the airport marks at least the second major public confrontation since the BJP came to power in West Bengal.
What the BJP Said
BJP MLA Arijit Bakshi did not hold back in his assessment of the situation. 'The Trinamool Congress MP has never been on the side of the locals. He was only seen organising picnics. Even when the people of Dum Dum were submerged in water up to their waists, he was never seen standing by the people with his dhoti folded. If he had any sense of self-respect, he should have resigned and left. The common people of Dum Dum Lok Sabha constituency get angry on seeing him. He has no connection with Dum Dum. He is the shameless Trinamool leader who clings to his post and chair,' Bakshi said.
Political Context
The protests reflect the intensifying rivalry between the TMC and the BJP in West Bengal, particularly in constituencies like Dum Dum where both parties contest influence. Critics argue that such public confrontations — increasingly frequent since the state's political transition — risk normalising intimidation of elected representatives. Saugata Roy, a senior and often outspoken figure within the TMC, has previously been at odds with sections of his own party's leadership, adding another layer of complexity to the political dynamics at play.
How the TMC and Roy respond to the escalating pressure in Dum Dum will be closely watched ahead of future electoral cycles in West Bengal.
Point of View
Suggesting that no official setting is now off-limits for political confrontation in West Bengal. Roy's own standing within the TMC has never been uncomplicated, and the BJP's messaging — framing him as absent and unaccountable — is calibrated for local grievance. The real risk is that normalising such mob-style protests against sitting MPs, regardless of party, erodes the basic norms of representative democracy.
NationPress
18 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Saugata Roy protested at Kolkata airport?
TMC MP Saugata Roy was confronted by BJP workers and local residents outside Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport on 18 August because he had arrived for a meeting at the Airport Authority office. Protesters surrounded his car, waved black flags, and raised 'Go back' and 'Thief, thief' slogans before police and airport authorities intervened.
Has Saugata Roy faced similar protests before?
Yes. In late May this year, Roy was surrounded by an agitated crowd in the Nimta area of North 24 Parganas district, where eggs were thrown at him and 'thief' slogans were raised. He alleged BJP workers were responsible for that incident as well.
What did BJP MLA Arijit Bakshi say about the protest?
BJP MLA Arijit Bakshi accused Roy of being absent during local crises, saying residents were angered by his alleged neglect of the Dum Dum constituency. Bakshi called on Roy to resign, saying he 'clings to his post and chair' without serving constituents.
What is the political significance of these protests?
The confrontations reflect the intensifying BJP-TMC rivalry in West Bengal, particularly in seats like Dum Dum. Analysts say the pattern suggests a coordinated effort by BJP ground workers to delegitimise TMC representatives ahead of future state and national elections.
