Mamata Banerjee Orders FIR After Alleged BJP Leaflet Distribution At Protest
Mamata accuses BJP of distributing PM Modi leaflets at her Kolkata protest site.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of attempting to distribute leaflets promoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming March 14 rally at her ongoing sit-in protest at Esplanade. Banerjee claimed that the distribution was being carried out through an external agency and directed officials to catch anyone involved red-handed.
On the fourth day of the anti-SIR dharna, Banerjee instructed state minister Shashi Panja to file a First Information Report (FIR) immediately and urged organizers and participants to monitor the surroundings closely. Reports indicated that one individual had already been caught distributing the leaflets at the protest site.
“I am warning everyone who is on the dharna. BJP is trying to distribute leaflets through outside agencies. Catch them red-handed. Hand them over to the police. They have no right to enter the programmes of other political parties,” Banerjee said. She emphasized that anyone violating these instructions would face consequences, describing the BJP as a “party of cowards” attempting to reach Trinamool workers indirectly.
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The Chief Minister further claimed that leaflets were being distributed near the protest dais and insisted that those responsible be immediately handed over to law enforcement. She reiterated that the BJP had no right to interfere in the ongoing dharna and that appropriate action should be taken against any wrongdoing.
Responding to the allegations, BJP leader Rahul Singh denied any involvement in leaflet distribution. Speaking at a press conference, Singh stated, “BJP is not distributing any leaflets to them (Trinamool) there. They are doing this and blaming it on BJP. Those who reached there with placards also have their rights. If the Chief Minister has the right to sit there, then people have the right to present their demands and distribute leaflets as well.”
Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to hold a public rally at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata next Saturday. The incident has heightened political tensions in the city, with both parties asserting their positions over access, protest rights, and the upcoming electoral engagements.
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