'Bullets Will Fly': TMC Sting Videos Allege Conspiracy On The Eve Of Big Nabanna Protest Rally, BJP Hits Back

In more political mudslinging over the alleged rape-murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, the Trinamool Congress has called the proposed ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ rally demanding the resignation of West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday (August 27), as “illegal and an attempt to incite widespread unrest in Kolkata”.

During a press conference by the TMC — presided over by senior leaders Chandrima Bhattacharya, Kunal Ghosh and Joyprakash Majumdar — two videos were released that purportedly showed two persons advocating for violence to ensure the rally’s success. The party said these videos were acquired by means of a “sting operation” and alleged that right-wing groups and some leftists, including the CPI(M), have planned a massive conspiracy to make the event bloody and spread violence.

The BJP, meanwhile, responded to the allegations saying the TMC is using the police to spread panic before the rally while the chief minister is making an attempt to suppress a people’s movement, which has gained momentum under “tremendous pressure”. Senior leader Amit Malviya said the police must take steps to ensure there are no disruptions in the protest march as it is their responsibility to uphold law and order.

According to News18 Bangla, which could not verify the videos, two people can be heard saying: “Bullets will fly, rubber bullets will be fired… If there are no casualties, you can’t politicise the issue… if there are no casualties, it’ll all be futile. But we are confident there’ll be casualties that day… on the 27th of August. Otherwise it’s doomed…”

The TMC accused the BJP of planning the conspiracy, saying the party has resorted to the politics of “dead bodies under the camouflage of justice”. The videos were posted on the ruling party’s official handle on X, saying: “Dead bodies must fall” for “political momentum.” – SHOCKING videos have emerged indicating a sinister conspiracy behind the Nabanna Abhiyan tomorrow! BJP has resorted to the politics of DEAD BODIES under the camouflage of JUSTICE! Instead of asking CBI to expedite the probe, this is what the BJP is busy doing. Proof,” it said.

At the press conference, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh questioned the rationale behind the rally’s decision to march to Nabanna, which is the state secretariat, instead of the CBI office where the probe is underway. He warned of potential disruptions, including outsiders being brought in and people possibly disguising themselves in police uniforms to provoke violence and blame police.

“What these people – mostly right-wing forces like RSS and ABVP as well as some leftists backed by CPI(M) – really want is clear from these videos. They want deaths. We have information that people from outside the state are also being brought to foment unrest during the rally. We have also learnt some people in the rally will be wearing police uniforms and fire on people to shift the blame on the police,” he said.

Senior minister Chandrima Bhattacharya alleged that the rally, which has been organised by a student outfit called Chhatra Samaj, is part of a plan by some elements to disrupt peace and stability in the state. She dismissed the call for Banerjee’s resignation as politically motivated.

“The call for this rally has been given on social media by Chhatra Samaj, which has not intimated police about their plans. We all want justice for the victim and exemplary punishment for the perpetrators. The case has been handed over to the CBI and the demand for the resignation of the CM is politically motivated,” she said.

Ghosh further said elements out to destabilise Bengal are more interested in dislodging the CM from power after repeated rejections by the electorate in Bengal.

‘Mamata Banerjee will bear responsibility for untoward incident at Nabanna rally’

In response, BJP Rajya Sabha MP and state spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya denied any involvement of the party in the rally, asserting that if any members of the saffron party attend, it will be in their individual capacity. The BJP, he said, has no official role in organising the march.

Malviya said instead of upholding law and order, the police are being used to spread fear and stifle people’s right to protest. He said Banerjee, in fact, will be responsible for any untoward incident at the Nabanna rally. He called the police “incompetent buffoons”, who prefer to act as doormat of the ruling TMC”. “Let it be clear — Home Minister Mamata Banerjee alone will bear full responsibility for any untoward incident that occurs during the Nabanno Abhiyaan, tomorrow,” he wrote in a post on X.

“After acting DGP of West Bengal (during #Sandeshkhali) and CP Kolkata (for his dubious role in covering up the RG Kar rape and murder case) were thoroughly discredited, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has pushed forward Supratim Sarkar, ADG & IGP, South Bengal, to spread panic before the Nabanno Abhiyaan, called by the ‘Paschimbanga Chhatro Samaj’, on 27th August,” he said in the post.

He blamed the police for the previous incident of vandalism at the RG Kar hospital during the ‘Reclaim the Night’ protest march on the intervening night of August 14 and 15. “In order to maintain law and order, the first thing WB Police should do is put all TMC MPs/MLAs/Councillors and criminals, affiliated with the TMC, including those disguised as Civic Police, under preventive detention. These are the people who are most likely to resort to violence and intimidation, on instructions of Mamata Banerjee. The time to act is NOW,” he added.

State BJP president Sukanta Majumdar also held a press conference at the BJP party office in Salt Lake. He said fear is being created in the minds of students, who want to carry out a peaceful protest, because the CM and her nephew (TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee) are scared.

“We have not initiated this movement but we support this movement as it is demanding justice and also demanding Mamata Banerjee’s resignation. Police are now trying to create fear,” he added.

The CPI(M) also joined the BJP in criticising the TMC, saying their claims were an expression of fear and desperation. Party leader Satarup Basu accused the party of panicking due to rising spontaneous protests and stressed that the CPI(M) supports peaceful, democratic protests against the ruling party’s alleged misrule.

“We have repeatedly said BJP and right-wing organisations are behind the August 27 rally and none of the Left organisations will participate,” Basu said.

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) previously clarified that it did not initiate the call for the march but affirmed its support for democratic movements.