Kolkata Police Deny Both TMC Factions Martyrs’ Day Rally Nod at Esplanade

Kolkata: Neither faction of Trinamool Congress will be allowed to hold its Martyrs’ Day rally near Victoria House at Esplanade this July 21. Citing prohibitory orders, Kolkata Police on Tuesday denied permission to both camps to use the site, where, barring a couple of years, the rally to commemorate the deaths of 13 Youth Congress workers in police firing in 1993 was held for the past three decades.

The 1993 protest rally was led by Mamata Banerjee, then with Congress.Kolkata Police commissioner Ajay Nand said, “A standing prohibitory order under BNS 163 (earlier Section 144 of CrPC) is in force there. That means no rallies or public meetings are allowed. The question of granting permission to anyone for that spot does not arise.” He added, “If a political party or even an NGO applies, we decide on granting permission based on circumstances.

It is strictly on merit and nothing else.

”The commissioner said choosing an alternative venue is Trinamool’s concern and told newspersons, “Your questions on (TMC’s) factions do not fall in my domain.”On Tuesday, police reissued prohibitory orders around Esplanade, including the Victoria House stretch, till Aug 30. The earlier order is slated to end on Wednesday. A fresh notification said cops have received credible intelligence that suggests violent demonstrations could take place in the area, leading to breach of peace, disruption of public order and obstruction of vehicular movement.

The order prohibits assembly of five or more persons, rallies, meetings, processions, dharnas or demonstrations.

It also bars people from carrying lathis, lethal or other dangerous weapons or engaging in activities likely to disturb public tranquillity.On Sunday, even before cops had decided on Trinamool’s application, Beleghata MLA Kunal Ghosh and Rajya Sabha MP Dola Sen were found measuring the area in front of Victoria House. On Monday, CM Suvendu Adhikari raised the issue in assembly and said, “They went there with measuring tapes. Is it your mama’s property? Apply first and I’ll tell you where to hold the meeting.”

Shortly after the CM’s comments, police filed a case against Sen, Ghosh, advocate Baiswanor Chatterjee and several others for allegedly obstructing traffic. “We have issued notices to everyone who was there,” Nand said.Chatterjee, who has been closely associated with the July 21 programme, said, “This place is chosen each year since this is the spot where 13 martyrs lost their lives demanding photo IDs for voters.

Hence, the context is different from any other rally. Even during Left regime, we had no problem securing police permission. Now, even applying for permission leads to FIRs being drawn up against us. This is nothing short of death knell for democracy.

” Ghosh said, “The Red Road can be closed for a week (for Yoga Day), and here police cannot allow a rally for half-a-day.”From the rebel camp, Akhruzzaman, chief whip of TMC’s legislative party said, “We will definitely observe our Martyrs’ Day but it will be done in such a way that it does not inconvenience people.

We will sit together, discuss the program, and then take the next decision.”Earlier, on June 19, Calcutta high court had issued notices to Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee in a 2019 contempt plea over alleged violation of the court’s directive on blocking arterial roads during its July 21 Martyrs’ Day rally.In the past 33 years, Trinamool’s Martyr’s Day rally was not organised at Esplanade on four years. In 2011, after coming to office for the first time in Bengal, Trinamool held the rally at Brigade Parade Ground. In 2013 it was not held due to the Model Code of Conduct (for panchayat elections) and in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid.