West Bengal Minister Birbha Hansda’s car was attacked by Kurmi community members’ protesters. The incident took place near Lodhasuli in Jhargram, in a TMC outreach event, where Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee will attend a programme on Saturday. TMC General Secretary, Abhishek Banerjee’s convoy was also affected.
Minister Hansda got hit with broken glass pieces while 12 Trinamool event workers were hurt by the thrown stones. She reported that the workers were shifted to a hospital for immediate treatment.
Abhishek informed Mamta Banerjee describing the details of the incident. The Chief Minister replied with a strong call for action for those answerable.
Severe damage was done by protestors
Abhishek had just finished the Jhargram roadshow, part of his statewide yatra and was heading to Lodhasuli. Kurmi protestors had blocked the road the convoy was to take. Although they were removed by the police, they still managed to do damage.
While Mr Banerjee’s car managed to be in the direct line of hit by the protestors, other cars, including Minister Hansda’s car was not so lucky. The former’s car has passed by when the bystanders started shelling stones.
A regiment of police rushed to the spot to gain control. No arrests have been made, at the time of the news report.
Banerjee said he got down from his car to greet the people who had gathered. However, no one approached him. The TMC leader was able to identify protestors and report the same to the police.
He claimed the BJP was behind the attack as there were chants of ‘Jai Shree Ram’. He announced 48 hours were being given for the attackers to come forward and clarify if anyone else was involved.
Hansda commented that violence can never be a part of a democratic protest. People who had thrown stones were outsiders and should not justify violence to get their point across, the Minister continued.
BJP spokesperson, Samik Bhattacharya was noted saying similar attacks have happened at their own parties’ events. Abhishek’s claims have no ground, Samik continued.
The Kurmi protest
Members of the Kurmi community have been in protest since last year. Amid roadblocks and traffic disruptions, the Kurmis have been demanding scheduled tribe classification, instead of OBC, their present status. They have been protesting in several districts of the state including Purulia, Dinajpur, Paschim Medinipur and Jhargram.
The protest took to the news earlier this month when Trinamool Congress leader, Ajit Maity, called the protestors ‘Khalistanis’. Following the comment, several higher-ups apologized publicly including, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Similarly, Senior BJP leader, Dilip Ghosh remarked that they have helped the Kurmi protestors by sending rice and lentils. Members of the Kurmi tribe angered over the comment, held a protest near his house and demanded an apology. State BJP President, Sukanta Majumdar apologized, on behalf of Dilip Ghosh, to appease the crowds.
CPI leader Sujan Chakraborty said TMC must look into why these protests are happening in the first place. There are several issues on the table that are making people angry.
