Kolkata, August 22 –Activists from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged a large-scale protest in Kolkata on Thursday afternoon, demonstrating against the RG tax case. The protest, which began as part of the BJP’s Swasthya Bhavan Abhiyan, saw participants breaking through police barricades as they marched towards the health facility. The situation quickly escalated, leading to a mild scuffle with the police, who responded with a baton charge.
The march was led by prominent BJP leaders, including Opposition Leader Subhendu Adhikari, Sukant Majumdar, Dilip Ghosh, and several others. As the procession reached Indira Bhavan, police intervened, attempting to stop the protesters from advancing further. In response, BJP workers broke through the police barricades, pushing forward with their demonstration.
Subhendu Adhikari, who was at the forefront of the procession, was subsequently arrested by the police. His arrest led to a tense standoff, with BJP supporters surrounding the prison van in which he was being taken. The situation grew more heated as protesters expressed their anger and frustration over the handling of the RG tax case.
Before being taken away, Subhendu Adhikari addressed the situation, stating, "I wanted to meet a five-member delegation at the health building. They did not allow it. I was pulled and dragged to the prison van. The fight will continue."
The Swasthya Bhavan Abhiyan, which began at HIDCO, was aimed at protesting the RG tax scandal, with the BJP calling for accountability and transparency. The rally saw the participation of top BJP leaders from Bengal, including Agnimitra Pal, Locket Chatterjee, Debashree Chowdhury, Rupa Gangopadhyay, Rudranil Ghosh, and Hiran Chatterjee, who led the protest alongside Subhendu Adhikari.
The protests have underscored the growing tensions in West Bengal as BJP activists continue to challenge the state government's actions and policies. As of now, it remains unclear how long the demonstrations will continue or what further actions the BJP might take in response to the ongoing situation.
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