T he BJP’s attempt to leverage public outrage over the rape and murder of a young doctor from R G Kar Medical College in Kolkata has backfired, leaving the party isolated and exposing internal divisions. The 12-hour bandh called by the BJP on August 28, intended to protest alleged police atrocities during a march to the state secretariat, Nabanna, fell flat. Normal life continued across Bengal, with only minor disruptions reported. The BJP’s efforts to hijack the grassroots movement, which was primarily led by women demanding justice, have only weakened the party’s position. The “Nabanna Abhijan,” spearheaded by Paschimbanga Chhatra Samaj, a group linked to the RSS, failed to garner significant support. The Chhatra Samaj was unveiled just a week before the August 27 rally, but its student-led facade quickly crumbled. The political maneuvering behind the scenes became apparent, and instead of bolstering the BJP’s cause, it further solidified Mamata Banerjee’s hold on Bengal politics. The tragedy at R G Kar Medical College not only ignited widespread anger but also led to introspection within the Trinamool Congress (TMC). Many questioned whether the government had handled the situation appropriately.
The BJP’s internal conflicts also came to the fore, with two factions clashing over strategy. Subhendu Adhikari, representing the defectors from the TMC, and Sukanta Majumdar, the state president aligned with the RSS, were at odds. While Adhikari pushed for broader participation in the rally, Majumdar stuck to the RSS’s plan to focus the protests on areas frequented by intellectuals and social activists. This rift only weakened the party’s efforts. Violence erupted in Kolkata and Howrah during the protests on August 27, with demonstrators pelting stones and glass bottles at the police, leaving several officers injured. Despite the provocation, the Kolkata police maintained restraint, avoiding the use of firearms. Instead, they resorted to lathi charges and tear gas to control the situation. The BJP, however, failed to provide credible figures on the number of injured protesters, further undermining its claims. Adhikari later claimed that 133 protesters, including 17 women, were injured. But the rally, ostensibly organized to seek justice for the murdered doctor, quickly shifted focus to demanding Mamata Banerjee’s resignation. Some agitators even framed the protest as a response to her alleged “appeasement of Muslims,” exposing the communal undercurrents within the movement.
Interestingly, the RSS avoided involving its student wing, ABVP, in the protests, likely anticipating the limited student participation. Instead, the BJP had to rely on its workers to bolster the numbers, further highlighting the disconnect between the party and the grassroots movement. The CPI(M) and other left parties, which had played a significant role in organizing protests for justice, distanced themselves from the BJP’s bandh, choosing to continue their own demonstrations independently. Adding to the BJP’s woes, the CBI, tasked with investigating the R G Kar case by the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court, has not found evidence to support the BJP’s claims. Despite this, the party’s IT cell and social media supporters continue to spread misinformation, drawing criticism even from the judiciary. In the end, the BJP’s plot to unseat Mamata Banerjee and impose President’s Rule in Bengal has failed.
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