News Brief
Mamta Banerjee Chief Minister of West Bengal (File Photo)
A controversy erupted after the Army dismantled a Trinamool Congress protest stage in Kolkata’s Maidan area, which had been set up to highlight alleged harassment of Bengali migrants, reported NDTV.
The Army’s Eastern Command said the Maidan falls under its jurisdiction and that permission for events is granted for up to two days, as per Supreme Court directions.
“Permission for events exceeding three days must be obtained from the Ministry of Defence. The stage had been in place for nearly a month despite multiple reminders. Following this, Kolkata police were informed, and the Army removed the structure,” the statement said.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP of using the Army for political purposes. “The Army is not guilty; they have been directed by the BJP. It’s a dirty political game,” she said, urging her party to move the protest to a new location. “If atrocities against Bengalis continue, we will protest every day,” she added.
The BJP welcomed the Army’s action. A party leader and former MP stated that the Trinamool protest lacked proper permission and said, “Action taken by the Army against Trinamool is right. BJP has also often been denied permission to protest.”