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Indian Army dismantled TMC’s protest stage near Mahatma Gandhi’s statue in Kolkata’s Maidan area, sparking Mamata Banerjee’s protest.
The Maidan area is under the authority of the Indian Army, whose Eastern Command headquarters is situated nearby at Fort William. (X)
High drama unfolded in Kolkata’s Maidan area on Monday after the Indian Army took up the dismantling of a stage erected beside Mahatma Gandhi’s statue by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) to protest against alleged atrocities on Bengali-speaking migrant workers from West Bengal in other states.
What’s The Row?
A defence official said that the Indian Army (Local military Authority, Kolkata) gives permission for events in the Maidan area for a duration of two days, as directed by the Supreme Court, news agency PTI reported.
He said that permission for events for over three days is being granted by the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.
“Permission for the conduct of events was provided for two days. However, the stage has been set up for almost a month. Several reminders have been sent to the organisers for the removal of the temporary structure. However, it was not removed,” the defence official told the news agency.
He said that the Kolkata Police were thereafter informed, and the structure was being removed by the Indian Army.
TMC Allegs BJP’s Role
Meanwhile, the Mamata Banerjee-led party alleged that the stage was dismantled at the direction of the BJP in a bid to target the TMC.
West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC Chief Mamata Banerjee, who soon reached the spot after getting the news, alleged that the stage was demolished by the Army on the instructions of the BJP.
She said that she was sitting just 10 minutes away, but after getting the news, she left everything and visited the site to register her protest.
She said that the Army should have consulted Kolkata Police before dismantling TMC’s stage.
Alleging the BJP’s vendetta politics behind the act, she said the move was unethical and undemocratic
In a post on X, the party said that it holds the Indian Army in the highest regard, but what happened at the protest site was undemocratic.
“The BJP abused power to dismantle our Bhasha Andolan protest site despite prior permission being granted and security deposits being made,” it said in a post on X.
We hold the Indian Army in the highest regard. What happened at Mayo Road is not the Army’s doing. @BJP4India abused power to dismantle our Bhasha Andolan protest site despite prior permission being granted and security deposits being made.It is the UNDEMOCRATIC,…
— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) September 1, 2025
“It is the UNDEMOCRATIC, UNCONSTITUTIONAL STRONG-ARM tactics of a rattled party that knows it cannot win Bengal’s trust. BJP thinks they can silence us by deploying boots against voices, but Bengal has never bowed to bullies – whether in colonial times or under today’s Delhi Zamindars,” it added.
TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said that the BJP government has brought in the Army after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).”
He further said that the party would shift the protest venue to Rani Rashmoni Road from in front of the Gandhi statue.
The Chief Minister also vowed that the TMC would now protest in every block against this act.
BJP Reacts
The saffron party soon responded to the Chief Minister’s allegations, with party leader Suvendu Adhikari saying that the former’s audacity to defame the Indian Army is a new low.
In a post on X, he said, “Shame on you, Mamata Banerjee. Your audacity to defame the Indian Army, the pride of our nation, is a new low. We always knew that you are an Anti National, however claiming that 200 brave Army personnel “ran away” when you arrived at the Maidan is not just the biggest lie you ever uttered, it’s a disgusting attempt to tarnish the honour of our Armed Forces, whose courage and sacrifice are unmatched.”
Shame on you, Mamata Banerjee.Your audacity to defame the Indian Army, the pride of our nation, is a new low. We always knew that you are an Anti National, however claiming that 200 brave Army personnel “ran away” when you arrived at the Maidan is not just the biggest lie you… pic.twitter.com/KnCZ551sR8
— Suvendu Adhikari (@SuvenduWB) September 1, 2025
He further accused the TMC of illegally occupying public land for nearly a month in violation of Army rules and Supreme Court directives.
“Despite multiple reminders, your party refused to remove the temporary structure, forcing the Army to act after informing the Kolkata Police. Instead of taking responsibility, you are spinning falsehoods to save face. This shamelessness shows how blinded you are by power. You have insulted not only the Army but every Indian who reveres them. If you have any dignity left, resign immediately.”
BJP leader Pradeep Bhandari also attacked Mamata Banerjee, saying that insulting the Army for petty propaganda is an insult to every Indian.
“Shamelessness has a new name — Mamata Banerjee. In her desperation, she is now openly targeting the Indian Army. Our soldiers safeguard the nation, not serve TMC’s corrupt politics. Insulting the Army for petty propaganda is an insult to every Indian. Shame on Mamata!” he said in a post on X.
(With inputs from agencies)
Kamalika Sengupta is the Editor (East) at CNN-News18 / News18.com, focusing on politics, defence, and women’s issues. She is a seasoned multimedia journalist with over 20 years of experience reporting from East…Read More
Kamalika Sengupta is the Editor (East) at CNN-News18 / News18.com, focusing on politics, defence, and women’s issues. She is a seasoned multimedia journalist with over 20 years of experience reporting from East… Read More
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