Kolkata, August 28: Tensions flared on Thursday afternoon on Camac Street in central Kolkata when officials from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), accompanied by Kolkata police, arrived to remove a billboard from the office of Abhishek Banerjee, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) general secretary and Diamond Harbour MP.
Upon hearing the news, Banerjee arrived at the scene with TMC Rajya Sabha member Derek O’Brien and other associates. A heated debate ensued between the Diamond Harbour MP and KMC officials. While the officials claimed the billboard was installed illegally, Banerjee argued that the order from KMC was invalid.
He stated that if the order were legitimate, it would have included a picture of the billboard in the documentation. Subsequently, a group of KMC officials returned to the municipal office to obtain a revised copy of the order.
Speaking to the media, Banerjee launched a strong attack on the state government, KMC, and Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. He asserted, “There is an attempt to forcibly eliminate the Trinamool Congress. Why is the BJP so afraid? Previously, the administration did not allow TMC to hold meetings and rallies democratically. The ruling party and the administration are attacking leaders, destroying party offices, and tearing down billboards. What are they afraid of? I want to tell Suvendu Adhikari that the TMC’s election symbol is the grass flower. The more it is cut, the more it will grow.”
Banerjee alleged that the administration was specifically targeting the billboard at his party office on Camac Street while leaving many other billboards in the area untouched. He stated, “We will approach the Calcutta High Court against this move. No one is above the Indian Constitution.”
KMC officials and police accused the Diamond Harbour MP and his associates of obstructing government officials in the performance of their duties.
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