Mamata takes to streets against eviction of shopkeepers in WB

Trinamool Congress party president and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee along with party supporters march to protest the eviction of shopkeepers in the recent anti-encroachment and demolition drive in Kolkata, India, June 17, 2026.) | Photo credit: Reuters

Trinamool Congress president and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took to the streets of Kolkata on Wednesday (June 17, 2026) to protest the eviction of hawkers in the state. Accompanied by Beleghat MLA Kunal Ghosh and former MP Dola Sen, Ms Banerjee arrived at the Esplanade in the heart of the city. The former chief minister marched nearly a kilometer to Subodh Mullick Square. The presence of the former chief minister attracted large crowds.

The Trinamool Congress termed the eviction of shopkeepers across the state as “illegal, unjust and inhumane”. In a post on social media, Trinamool Congress said that the people of West Bengal always come first.

“Our Hon’ble Chairman @MamataOfficial along with party leaders and dedicated workers led a peaceful protest march against the illegal, unjust and deeply inhumane eviction of hawkers from across #Bengal. The people of Bengal always came first,” the party posted on social media.

The Trinamool Congress also added that the party will leave no stone unturned to fight for the dignity, livelihood and rights of workers. “The ruthless @BJP4Bengalregime, fueled only by greed for power and blatant disregard for common citizens, will soon collapse under the weight of its own anti-people policies!” Trinamool Congress said.

The Trinamool leader, who is facing the biggest political crisis with rebellion in Lok Sabha MPs and MLAs, did not make any statement before the media.

Ever since the BJP came to power in West Bengal in May 2026, there have been evictions of vendors and squatters in markets and across railway stations in the state. Thousands of falconers and settlers occupying public land were evicted from public land. The leadership of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in West Bengal tried to resist the evictions and in some cases the leaders were arrested. Opposition parties, both the Trinamool Congress and the CPI(M), have been demanding rehabilitation of the hawkers before they are evicted.

On June 12, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari advocated counter-action against street vendors in Kolkata and railway stations.

The chief minister claimed congestion in areas like New Market, Rajabazar and Metiabruz in Kolkata to argue that the unchecked encroachment has become a problem of governance rather than just a matter of livelihood.

Published – 18 Jun 2026 04:01 IST