Kolkata, Aug 11: Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo and former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee was greeted with loud "chor, chor" slogans on Tuesday at Shyambazar in north Kolkata, turning a programme organised to protest alleged derogatory remarks on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose into a politically charged confrontation.
Programme intended as tribute disrupted
Banerjee arrived at the Shyambazar five-point crossing carrying a portrait of freedom fighter Khudiram Bose and paid respects at the statue of Netaji during the TMC event. The gathering was staged to register protest after remarks by BJP Rajya Sabha MP Nagendra Roy (popularly known as Ananta Maharaj), who reportedly described Netaji as a "war criminal", questioned his leadership and cast doubt on the role of the Azad Hind Fauj in India's freedom movement.
While West Bengal BJP leaders have publicly distanced themselves from Roy's comments — calling them personal and not reflective of party views — the episode has provided the TMC with fresh political ammunition to argue an assault on Bengal's nationalist legacy.
Heckling follows earlier assault on convoy
The slogans at Shyambazar briefly disrupted proceedings. The incident came barely two days after Banerjee's convoy was surrounded by protesters in Halisahar in North 24 Parganas district, where she said her vehicle was attacked with stones.
"I had chest pain after my vehicle was attacked by huge stones at Halisahar on Sunday, could not speak for two days," Banerjee said after the Shyambazar programme.
The TMC alleged the Shyambazar demonstration was deliberately orchestrated by people backed by the BJP to both disrupt the party's public function and to insult its leader. Some of the protesters reportedly chanted that "those who themselves are tainted should not garland Netaji" while targeting Banerjee.
- Event: TMC programme at Shyambazar to protest comments on Netaji.
- Incident: Slogans of "chor, chor" raised against Mamata Banerjee; brief disruption.
- Context: Controversy triggered by remarks attributed to Nagendra Roy (Ananta Maharaj).
- Prior episode: Convoy attacked in Halisahar two days earlier; Banerjee reported chest pain.
Political repercussions and narratives
The exchange underscores how deeply Netaji's memory is woven into Bengal's political identity. The TMC has seized on the Rajya Sabha MP's reported statements to depict an assault on the state's icons, using the controversy to rally support and to frame the BJP as inimical to Bengali pride and history.
Conversely, BJP functionaries have sought to contain the political damage by asserting that the MP's views are his own and not sanctioned by the party. The distancing, however, has done little to dampen the controversy in a state where references to Netaji often become emotive rallying points.
Public safety and law-and-order questions
The incident also raises immediate questions about crowd management and leaders' security during public programmes. The attack on Banerjee's convoy in Halisahar, said to have involved stone-pelting, and the reported chest pain she experienced, will likely prompt closer scrutiny of arrangements for political events.
Local policing agencies have not released detailed public statements about any arrests or follow-up action linked to either the Halisahar attack or the Shyambazar demonstration as of the close of Tuesday's events.
What happens next
Expect both parties to intensify messaging in coming days. For the TMC, the episode offers a way to consolidate support by invoking the memory of freedom fighters such as Netaji, Mahatma Gandhi and Matangini Hazra. For the BJP, managing the fallout from the Rajya Sabha MP's remarks while preventing the controversy from consolidating TMC's advantage will be a key challenge.
| Date | Location | Incident |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 9 (reported) | Halisahar, North 24 Parganas | Convoy surrounding; stone-pelting; Banerjee reported chest pain |
| Aug 11 | Shyambazar five-point crossing, Kolkata | TMC tribute programme disrupted by 'chor, chor' slogans |
The developments are likely to reverberate across the state's political landscape, where appeals to historical memory and public demonstrations remain central to party mobilisation strategies. Further statements from the BJP leadership and police clarifications on security lapses will be watched closely in Kolkata and beyond.
Arindam Das reports from Kolkata.
