The public outcry in Kolkata, sparked by the assault and murder of a female doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College, has gradually shifted into the hands of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). What initially began as a grassroots movement has now taken a political turn, with BJP leaders and supporters leading the charge. Consequently, during today’s ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ march to the state secretariat, the presence of general students, their parents, or ordinary citizens was notably absent. Instead, the march was dominated by BJP activists and their student wing members.
As the marchers approached the Nabanna secretariat, police responded with tear gas, water cannons, and baton charges to disperse the crowds. Clashes occurred at various points, including at the Kolkata end of the Howrah Bridge and near the Santragachi Railway Station on Kona Expressway. Despite attempts to break through police barricades, the protesters were ultimately unable to reach the secretariat. Following the police action against its members, the BJP has called for a 12-hour bandh (shutdown) across West Bengal tomorrow. The state government has announced that it will oppose the bandh and take measures to ensure the state remains functional.
Throughout the day, confrontations between protesters and police were reported, with some demonstrators throwing bricks and stones. The police claimed several officers were injured, while protesters also reported injuries among their ranks due to the police crackdown.
The movement, which began with the involvement of groups like ‘Paschim Banga Chhatrasamaj’ (a newly emerged student organization) and the ‘Sangrami Joutho Mancha’ (a platform of dissenting state government employees), has now been overshadowed by BJP’s political agenda. Leaders from these groups have accused the police of attacking peaceful demonstrators.
Suvendu Adhikari, BJP’s leader in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, condemned the police’s use of water cannons in Santragachi and tear gas at Howrah Bridge, as well as the baton charges in College Street.
Despite BJP’s efforts, today’s Nabanna Abhijan failed to draw large crowds, with the total number of protesters reportedly under 5,000, according to police estimates.
The shift in the movement’s leadership has sparked concerns that it might lose its initial momentum. Following the alleged rape and murder of a female intern at R.G. Kar Medical College on August 9, the protest gained widespread support across West Bengal and other parts of India. Many believed the movement could evolve into a spontaneous mass uprising, akin to those seen in Bangladesh, potentially forcing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to resign.
However, as the protest entered its second week, BJP gradually took over, leading to today’s march. The general public, who were active in the initial days, were notably absent today. Ajit Mukhopadhyay, a teacher from North Kolkata who had been participating in the protests, explained his absence, stating, “Any movement that starts with public leadership will eventually see political parties get involved. It’s natural because ordinary people can’t sustain a movement or run a government for long. But the key decision is when a political party steps in and claims the movement as its own. If they do it at the right time, they can achieve their goals. But in this case, I feel BJP’s involvement at this moment was premature, which is why people like me have stepped back.”
The West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Association, a recognized group of doctors protesting for justice in the R.G. Kar incident, held a press conference today. They clarified that they were not involved in today’s Nabanna Abhijan and would continue their protests independently. They also stated they would not participate in BJP’s call for a bandh tomorrow.
As for the future of the movement, Ajit Mukhopadhyay expressed uncertainty, questioning whether the public would regain control of the protest or if people like him would take to the streets again to demand justice for the victimized doctor.