Mamata Banerjee Condemns Arrest of CJP Leaders in Kolkata

Kolkata, October 14 (Daily Kiran) : Former Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, has strongly condemned the arrest of CJP leaders Saurabh Das and Ashutosh Ranka on charges of encroachment during a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. She expressed her solidarity with the CJP movement on social media, emphasizing the importance of fighting for democratic rights.

In her message, Banerjee highlighted the struggles of past generations for democracy and urged continued resistance. “I firmly condemn the arrest of Ashutosh and Saurabh. This moment calls for all of us to unite and fight for our great democracy. This is an attempt to intimidate and silence an entire generation, which is unacceptable. We must never relinquish our constitutional rights,” she stated.

Banerjee also claimed that democracy is being undermined in various parts of the country. She noted that around 14,000 people in Bengal are victims of police and political oppression. “A government that has forgotten that it is ‘of the people, by the people, for the people’ is nearing its end. To millions of youth, I say: ‘Your didi is with you—today and always! Let us come together to save our Mother India,'” she added.

Banerjee and her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee, were in the national capital to participate in protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The Delhi police had previously imposed restrictions on protests at Jantar Mantar. However, the day after the restrictions were enacted, Ashutosh, Saurabh, and 12 others scaled the walls of the site, waving the national flag.

Initially detained, the Delhi police later arrested them late Tuesday night. On Wednesday, Ashutosh, Saurabh, and others were presented in front of an executive magistrate’s court, where they were remanded to five days of judicial custody and sent to Tihar Jail.