A former Army personnel has moved the Calcutta High Court seeking permission to hold a dharna at Mayo Road on September 8 in protest against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s recent remarks on the Indian Army.
The petitioner approached the court after Kolkata Police denied him permission to conduct the demonstration. The matter was mentioned before Justice Tirthankar Ghosh, who allowed the plea to be filed. It will be taken up for hearing on Monday.
According to the petition, Banerjee’s comments have “insulted and hurt” the Indian Army. The controversy erupted earlier this week when the Chief Minister accused the Central government of “misusing” the Army to dismantle a protest stage set up by her party, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), in Kolkata’s Maidan area.
Banerjee had said: “We are proud of the Army, but if they are misused to dismantle a political party’s stage, decorations, and microphones, it is unacceptable. The BJP is misusing government forces… This is not the Army, this is the BJP acting as a ‘chhupa rustam.’”
Army’s Clarification
Responding to the allegations, the Indian Army issued an official statement clarifying that permission for the TMC protest was originally granted for only two days, in accordance with Supreme Court guidelines. Under these rules, the Local Military Authority can clear events in the Maidan area for up to two days, while events lasting longer require approval from the Ministry of Defence.
The Army said that despite “repeated reminders,” organisers had continued with the stage for nearly a month, which left the force with no option but to inform Kolkata Police and proceed with dismantling.
Political Tensions
The issue has sparked sharp political exchanges between the TMC and the BJP, with Banerjee accusing the Central government of disrespecting Kolkata Police, while ex-servicemen and veterans have voiced concern over what they view as “unwarranted criticism” of the Army.
With the High Court now set to hear the plea, the matter is expected to escalate further in the coming days, adding a fresh dimension to the ongoing tussle between the state government and the Centre.
