West Bengal’s political atmosphere turned tense after the Trinamool Congress (TMC) accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of deliberately dismantling its Bhasha Andolan protest site in Kolkata. The ruling party, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, denounced the move as “undemocratic, unconstitutional, and a reflection of strong-arm tactics.” The structure, which had been put up beside the Gandhi statue at Maidan, was ultimately taken down by the Indian Army, sparking a new wave of political confrontation.
The protest site had been erected as part of demonstrations highlighting alleged atrocities against Bengali-speaking migrant workers in BJP-ruled states. According to TMC leaders, they had obtained prior permission to set up the temporary structure and had also made the necessary security deposits. Despite this, the dismantling went ahead, which the party claimed was orchestrated at the BJP’s behest.
In a sharp statement, the TMC clarified that it continued to hold the Army in the “highest regard,” but alleged that the BJP had “abused power to dismantle the Bhasha Andolan protest site despite prior permission being granted.” The party further accused the saffron camp of trying to crush democratic voices, comparing their actions to colonial-era repression. “Bengal has never bowed to bullies—whether under the British or under today’s Delhi zamindars,” it said.
Mamata Banerjee herself lashed out strongly at the BJP, claiming that the saffron party was attempting to use the Army for political purposes. She insisted that her party had fulfilled all legal requirements, including paying fees for the site. “It is unethical, unconstitutional, and undemocratic. The BJP wants to use the Army for its own purposes, ignoring national security concerns. We had proper permission, yet our site was removed. This is nothing but misuse of power,” she remarked.
The TMC leadership also vowed to continue its struggle, declaring that no form of political intimidation or vandalism would deter them from fighting for the dignity of Bengal, their mother tongue, and the rights of the people.
In response to the escalating charges, the Indian Army issued a formal statement to clarify its position. It noted that permission had indeed been given for the protest but strictly for a maximum of two days, in line with Supreme Court guidelines. The Army explained that the TMC structure remained for nearly a month despite repeated reminders to remove it. As no action was taken by the party, the Army finally informed the Kolkata Police and dismantled the setup.
The Army further emphasized that permission for events exceeding three days must be sought from the Ministry of Defence (MoD), which had not been done in this case.
Meanwhile, Bengal BJP leader Baishanar Chatterjee dismissed TMC’s accusations as politically motivated. He argued that the Army had merely followed protocol and cited an earlier incident where the Kolkata Police had dismantled a BJP stage despite Army approval. “What the Army has done is correct. Mamata Banerjee should explain why she remained silent when the same happened to us,” Chatterjee said.
This latest row has only deepened the hostility between Bengal’s ruling party and the BJP, with both sides trading accusations of misusing institutions for political gain.
