'Protect the People of Bengal, This Is Not Uttar Pradesh'
Collected Photo
The morning session at the courtroom of Chief Justice Sujoy Paul of the Calcutta High Court on Thursday went beyond legal arguments, carrying clear political overtones. After a long gap, former West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee appeared in court in a lawyer’s black robe. Standing before the bench, she not only made legal submissions but also launched a sharp attack on the BJP government, appealing to the court to protect the people of Bengal. In the hearing on post-poll violence cases, arguments for the Trinamool Congress were presented by Kalyan Banerjee, his son Shirshinya Banerjee, Chandrima Bhattacharya, and Mamata Banerjee herself. Addressing the court, she said in clear terms, “Protect the people of Bengal. This is Bengal, not Uttar Pradesh. Bulldozer politics cannot be allowed here.”
Mamata Banerjee alleged that since the declaration of the election results, Trinamool workers and supporters across the state have faced continuous attacks, intimidation, displacement, and targeting of minorities and Scheduled Caste communities. She also alleged that bulldozers were being used indiscriminately in minority-dominated areas. She told the court that no one was being spared, from 92-year-olds to 18-year-old couples. She further claimed that members of Scheduled Castes and minority communities were being threatened and that fish and meat shops were being forcibly shut down. Many Trinamool workers, she added, have been forced to leave their homes. She also informed the court that a 12-year-old girl had received rape threats.
Her most significant allegation concerned her own security. Mamata said, “I am not being allowed to leave my home to go to the police. I am being forced to file complaints online, but nothing is happening.” She also alleged obstruction even when attempting to visit a police station from her Kalighat residence. During the hearing, tensions suddenly rose in the courtroom when a lawyer mocked her, saying, “Don’t do drama here.” The courtroom turned tense instantly. However, Mamata responded calmly but firmly, saying, “I have been a lawyer since 1985. I want to argue in that capacity.”
Left leader and lawyer Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya also appeared in court alongside Mamata Banerjee and argued the case. The Left and Trinamool Congress were seen taking a largely unified stand against the BJP government. Bhattacharya raised the issue of hawker evictions in the New Market area, alleging that poor street vendors’ temporary shops were demolished using bulldozers. He urged the court to restore the affected vendors to their previous positions.
Political observers said Mamata Banerjee had recently called for opposition unity to counter the BJP, and Thursday’s developments, where she and Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya appeared to align in court, have further fueled political speculation. The scene at the High Court was seen as reflecting a broader opposition unity against the BJP.
The Trinamool Congress also claimed in court that at least 10 people were killed in post-poll violence. It alleged that around 150 to 160 party offices were attacked, vandalized, and set on fire, and that more than 2,000 incidents of unrest were reported across the state.
On the other hand, police counsel Dhiraj Trivedi countered that no detailed list of incidents had been provided. He said not all incidents were post-poll violence and that investigations were ongoing, adding that police were taking and would continue to take action against offenders.
During the hearing, slogans of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ were raised in the High Court premises. Later, as Mamata Banerjee exited the court, BJP supporters allegedly shouted ‘thief, thief’ slogans at her.