Military Personnel Dismantle Political Platform Belonging to Trinamool Congress in West Bengal
In a heated exchange, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP and Rajnath Singh of misusing the Army in Kolkata. The controversy arose over the dismantling of a Trinamool Congress agitation venue in the Maidan area of the city.
The Army, under the command of the Headquarters Bengal Sub Area of the Eastern Command, was reportedly asked to remove a temporary structure that had been up for almost a month. However, Banerjee claimed that the Army dismantled the political party's stage and decorations without consultation.
The Army had given permission for events in the Maidan area for a duration of two days, as directed by the Supreme Court. But the location was the Gandhi statue on Mayo Road, where a dais was built for the 'Bhasa Andolon' stir, and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) had approved the Trinamool Congress's stage for more than three days. Permission for events longer than three days needs to be obtained from the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.
Banerjee stated that law and order is a state subject and the Army should have consulted the West Bengal and Kolkata police before taking action. She also alleged that her microphone was cut off, and the pandal was removed with the help of the Army.
The Army's step was met with anger from Banerjee, who accused the BJP and Rajnath Singh of political vendetta and disrespect for the Army and law and order. Banerjee did not expect the BJP to disrespect the Army, she said.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a man was rescued by the Indian Air Force (IAF) after being trapped in a flooded river in Chhattisgarh. No further details about the incident were immediately available.
In a different development, Odisha Discoms launched a one-kilowatt rooftop solar adoption scheme under the ULA model. Banerjee, who has offered help for the Durand Cup tournament to the Army in the past, made no comment on this initiative.
Banerjee's accusations against the BJP and the Army have caused a stir in politics, with both parties defending their actions and denying any wrongdoing. The situation remains tense, and it remains to be seen how this controversy will unfold in the days to come.
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