TMC Rejects BJP's Bengal Bandh Call

In West Bengal, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) called for a 12-hour 'Bengal Bandh' to protest against police actions during the 'Nabanna Abhiyan' rally, which faced violent clashes leading to police using tear gas and lathicharge. Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Kunal Ghosh dismissed the bandh as a 'failed attempt' to create unrest, asserting that daily life in Bengal remained unaffected with high attendance in industrial operations and public services. TMC leaders accused the BJP of politicizing the tragic rape-murder case of a doctor to incite chaos, while BJP leaders claimed the bandh was necessary to protest police brutality. Meanwhile, security was heightened across Kolkata, with additional police deployed to prevent violence. TMC officials emphasized the need to maintain normalcy and counter the BJP's efforts, urging the public to reject the bandh's call. The political tensions between the BJP and TMC continue to escalate amid ongoing protests and counter-protests in the state.