A recent ruling by the Calcutta High Court has given former army officers the green light to hold a protest in Kolkata. The officers plan to sit on a dharna (sit-in demonstration) on Mayo Road next Monday to protest against comments made by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee about the army.
The officers had taken their case to the High Court after Kolkata Police reportedly denied them permission to organize the protest. The court, led by Justice Tirthankar Ghosh, listened to their concerns and approved their plan to hold the dharna, allowing them to protest peacefully.
The controversy started when Mamata Banerjee accused the central government, led by the BJP, of misusing the army. This happened after army personnel dismantled a stage set up by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) to protest attacks on Bengali-speaking migrant workers in BJP-ruled states. The stage was near the Gandhi statue in Maidan, a prominent spot in central Kolkata, and fell under the army’s control.
Chief Minister Banerjee quickly arrived at the scene and objected to the army’s action. She told reporters that about 200 soldiers were running away after seeing her. She praised the army, saying they are her friends and that the soldiers did not act on their own but were following orders from the BJP and the central government.
Banerjee accused the BJP of using the army for political purposes and called their actions “unethical” and “undemocratic.” She also said the army should have coordinated with Kolkata Police before removing the stage, and that she would have personally arranged for its quick removal had she been contacted.
The day after the incident, Kolkata Police took legal action. They registered a case against the army truck involved in the staged dismantling, alleging violation of traffic rules. The police also started legal proceedings against the driver of the truck, especially after it nearly collided with the vehicle of Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma.
This situation highlights ongoing political tensions in West Bengal, with the state government criticizing the central BJP administration and the army’s role in political protests. The upcoming protest by former army officers will be watched closely as a sign of these rising tensions.
