The Bharatiya Janata Party has called for a 12-hour general strike in West Bengal on Wednesday to protest against the police action during a students’ rally in Kolkata demanding justice for the junior doctor who was raped and murder at RG Kar hospital.
Violence marred the demonstration with the protesters, aiming to reach the West Bengal state secretariat, clashing with the cops at multiple stoppage points. Several people, including senior police officers, were injured in the violence.
Police have taken into custody more than 200 people.
BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari alleged that over 160 protesters, including 17 women, suffered injuries in the police action.
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The West Bengal government said that the administration will ensure that normal life is not affected during the strike that will begin at 6 am. The government also urged people not to respond to BJP's strike call.
“The government will not allow any bandh on Wednesday. We urge people not to participate in it. All steps shall be taken to ensure that normal life is unaffected,” said Alapan Bandopadhyay, the chief advisor to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
An official notification issued in the afternoon said all government offices would remain open and all employees, except those facing exigencies or are on leave, would have to report for duty on August 28 or face show-cause for their unauthorised absence.
Meanwhile, the saffron party has urged Governor C.V. Ananda Bose to impose President's Rule in the state.
The protest rally was organised by Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj, a students body, a dissident state government employees' platform 'Sangrami Joutha Mancha'.