Violence at Trinamool rally in Calcutta; Mamata accuses the BJP government of enabling injustice

Trinamool Congress supporters staged a protest rally from Ballygunge Police Station to Hazra More in Kolkata on 8 July 2026, condemning the Baruipur rape and murder case. Photo credit: ANI

Violence erupted at a Trinamool Congress rally in Kolkata on Wednesday (July 8, 2026) when TMC supporters clashed with BJP workers. Condemning the chaos, TMC chief and former chief minister Mamata Banerjee said there has been lawlessness in the state since the Bharatiya Janata Party came to power two months ago.

A total of 41 TMC workers, supporters and leaders were injured and admitted to SSKM Hospital after being physically assaulted and brutalized by BJP thugs, according to a Trinamool statement on Wednesday evening.

“They keep an eye on us. But when a girl is raped, the police are not there… Both men and women have been abused and physically assaulted by the goons they (BJP) have hired. Is this the ‘paribartan’ (change) people of Bengal wanted?” asked Ms. Banerjee, who was protesting outside her home after violence erupted at the rally.

“Practically under house arrest”

The Trinamool rally was organized to protest the brutal rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl in Baruipur, which led to high tension across the state, including violent protests in Baruipur. The procession was supposed to move from Hazra Crossing to Ballygunge Phari, but clashes between Trinamool and BJP workers broke out in the Hazra area and continued in pockets across the assembly at many places.

Ms. Banerjee did not attend the rally in person as the number of participants was limited by the High Court. However, when the violence broke out, she came out of her house to address the protesters. She claimed that party workers were not allowed to go anywhere and were practically placed under “house arrest”. A top Trinamool party official also claimed that their handheld microphones were taken away despite the High Court’s permission to use them.

“Bengal lawlessness worse than UP”

“Those who steal from Ram’s donations used slogans in the name of Ram in our rallies in an attempt to disrupt our protests and malign the good name of Ram,” the Trinamool president added. Accusing the police of “allowing” TMC rallies and protest marches to be disrupted and not taking action against miscreants who attacked TMC workers, she claimed lawlessness in Bengal was now worse than Uttar Pradesh.

She urged those who fled Trinamool not to betray their own party workers. Anyone who does not want to ally with the party should join the BJP directly rather than maintain divided loyalties, she said.

Ms. Banerjee also alleged that chaos broke out outside her house in Kalighat and bicycle rallies were allowed outside her house in an attempt to intimidate her.

‘Broken Trust’

BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya responded by saying it was a free and democratic state, adding that Ms Banerjee could attend as many rallies as she wanted.

“There were no such protests during her time when atrocities were being committed, that’s why people removed her from power. People trusted her and replaced the Left, but she violated that trust. That’s why Trinamool was wiped out,” Mr Bhattacharya said.

Published – 8 Jul 2026 22:22 IST