Is CM Banerjee Right to Accuse BJP of Misusing the Army?

Kolkata, Sep 1 (NationPress) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday accused the BJP-led government at the Centre of 'misusing' the Indian Army after its personnel dismantled a stage that the Trinamool Congress had set up to protest against the atrocities faced by Bengali-speaking migrant workers in BJP-ruled states.

The Indian Army began dismantling the Trinamool's stage near the Mahatma Gandhi statue in the Maidan area of central Kolkata, a location under military jurisdiction.

Upon learning of this development, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee quickly arrived at the scene to protest against the Army's actions.

When the Indian Army personnel noticed the Chief Minister's presence, they halted the dismantling and vacated the area.

Following this, CM Banerjee addressed the dismantled site, launching a fierce criticism of the BJP and the Indian Army for failing to notify the local police regarding their actions. She stated, 'I do not blame the Army. However, it is the BJP's vendetta politics that is at play here. The double-engine government of the BJP must take responsibility. They are misusing the Army, which is unethical and undemocratic. The Army should have consulted with Kolkata Police prior to dismantling the stage. They could have contacted me, and I would have had the stage removed within moments.'

The leader of the Trinamool Congress called for widespread protests throughout West Bengal on Tuesday to express her party's discontent regarding the Army's actions.

'I don't blame the Army; I simply request that they remain neutral and not serve the BJP's interests. They wish to utilize the Army for their own agenda. This is a critical message. They are disregarding internal and border security. This should not happen. We had permission for the event, and we also paid the necessary fees,' remarked CM Banerjee.

In a statement on their official X handle, the Trinamool Congress said, 'We hold the Indian Army in the highest esteem. What transpired at Mayo Road is not the Army's doing. The BJP has abused its power to dismantle our 'Bhasha Andolan' protest site, despite prior permissions being granted and security deposits made.'

On Monday, Army personnel dismantled the Trinamool's 'Bhasha Andolan (language agitation)' stage at Mayo Road in Kolkata after the permission to continue the protest allegedly expired. The stage was set up in the Army-controlled area with the necessary approvals.

A Defence official explained that the Indian Army (local military authority in Kolkata) grants permission for events in the Maidan area for a maximum of two days, as per Supreme Court directives.

'For events exceeding three days, permission must be obtained from the Ministry of Defence, Government of India. The initial permission was granted for two days. However, the stage has remained up for nearly a month. Several reminders were sent to the organizers to remove the temporary structure, but it was not done,' stated Himanshu Tiwari, Public Relations Chief & Officer at the Directorate of Public Relations, Ministry of Defence.

'The permission for this program was given for three days at the start of August. Yet now, after a month, the Army is finally removing it,' he added.

Condemning the Army's actions, Trinamool leader Chandrima Bhattacharya said, 'We condemn this. We had agreed to hold protests every weekend. Suddenly, they dismantled the pandals. If there was an issue, they should have communicated with our leaders or the administration.'

'This will not silence our voice. Bengal knows how to protest. Bengali is a recognized language. Our leader is already present. We will not engage in conflict with them as we respect the federal structure. Our protests will continue near the Gandhi statue.'

In contrast, the BJP criticized the Trinamool Congress over the situation.

'This latest incident clearly illustrates that Mamata Banerjee is unmatched in her falsehood, randomness, and hypocrisy. The unsuccessful Chief Minister, skilled in deception, has gone so far as to attack the @adgpi Indian Army with disgraceful remarks, an act that is not only shameful but also undermines the dignity of her constitutional position,' stated Union Minister of State for Education and DoNER, Sukanta Majumdar on his X handle.

'To protect her appeasement-driven, corrupt, and dishonest political interests, she has not hesitated to target even the vigilant guardians of the nation. By daring to insult the Army while holding the Chief Minister's office, she has demonstrated that her thirst for power and arrogance supersedes respect for the law, the Constitution, and national institutions.'

The Union minister further questioned, 'Does @MamataOfficial consider herself above the law, above the Constitution, and even above the Indian Army? Or has she reduced the Chief Minister's office and state governance to mere platforms for her deceitful politics and authoritarian whims?'