On August 27, the state witnessed the erection of an unparalleled defensive structure. (Photo: X/@amitmalviya)
The image of Mamata being dragged out of the Writers' Building in 1993 became emblematic of her struggle against the entrenched Left Front government. Nearly two decades later, Mamata Banerjee’s government is adopting similar tactics that she once protested against
One of the most iconic images of Mamata Banerjee is from 1993, when she was forcibly dragged out of Writers House, the seat of the government of West Bengal, by the police. There are several other occasions where Mamata Banerjee is still remembered for her unprecedented uproar and the way she faced alleged police brutality.
Mamata Banerjee was a member of the Indian National Congress from 1975 to 1998 and led many such protest rallies in the 1990s against Chief Minister Jyoti Basu Basu's Left Front government. In 1993, she tried to storm into the Writers' Building to meet CM Basu while demanding justice on various issues, including alleged political violence perpetrated by the communist regime.
Pick up where the Communist Party “left off”?
The police intervention was forceful and the image of Mamata being dragged from the premises became emblematic of her fight against the entrenched Left Front government. The manner in which she led the Long March, the Writers' Building and the gheraos at Lalbazar (Calcutta Police Headquarters) and the siege of the State Legislative Assembly became representative of her political movement.
Nearly two decades later, Mamata Banerjee’s government is adopting similar tactics that she once protested against, almost identical to the man and his methods she fought to overthrow.
Method, madness and mastery: Mamata Banerjee’s strategy
The methods of her government, the lunacy of some of those methods, and the adroitness with which they were implemented – these are the few expressions that capture Mamata Banerjee’s ruthless tactics of suppressing dissent. On any given day of protests, the West Bengal police force – with dozens of senior officers in riot gear covering specific areas, while Rapid Action Force (RAF), specialist RoboCop units and law enforcement platoons – No effort will be spared.
However, on August 14, when a mob vandalized RG Kar Hospital and looted medicines and medical equipment worth crores of rupees, this powerful force was conspicuously absent.
The government also canceled derby football matches and postponed the Durand Cup semi-finals amid fears of protests and chaos following the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at the hospital. West Bengal police said they were concerned that there were not enough security forces to handle such large-scale matches, crowds and riots.
However, on August 27, the state witnessed the erection of an unparalleled defensive structure. As part of its approach and mastery of policing situations, state police have demonstrated some exemplary methods.
From deploying water cannons at strategic locations and erecting barricades 7 to 10 feet high, some of which were cemented on the streets, to deploying containers from Kidderpur Jetty to strengthen defences, the West Bengal Police has performed a remarkable job level of preparedness and control to deter protesters.
However, during the frenzied movement, several protesters were reportedly injured in the lathi charge, as well as many police officers.
While many would argue about the causes and effects of such protests, some would agree that protest politics, introduced in Bengal by Left parties, was intensified and elevated by the current chief minister, Mamata Banerjee.
