Mamata Banerjee sees red after after protest site dismantled by Army personnel: 'Playing into BJP's hands'

CM Mamata Banerjee reaches Mahatma Gandhi statue where the pandal was being dismantled in Kolkata

After the Indian Army on Monday took up the dismantling of a stage erected beside the Gandhi statue in Kolkata's Maidan area by the Trinamool Congress, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reached the spot.

“Army should have consulted Kolkata Police before dismantling TMC's stage erected to protest 'harassment' of Bengal migrants. BJP's vendetta politics behind Army's move to dismantle TMC's stage erected to protest 'harassment' of Bengal migrants,” said the CM.

She also said the Army's move was “unethical and undemocratic”. "I don't blame Army, just appeal to them to remain neutral and not play in hands of BJP," she said.

However, a defence official told PTI that local military authority in Kolkata gives permission for events in the Maidan area for a duration of two days, as directed by the Supreme Court. The party was protesting against alleged atrocities on Bengali-speaking migrant workers from West Bengal in other states.

"Permission for conduct of events was provided for two days. However, the stage has been put up for almost a month. Several reminders have been sent to the organisers for removal of the temporary structure. However, it was not removed," the defence official said.

Alleging that the Centre has targeted the Trinamool Congress, party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh told PTI that the "BJP government has brought in the Army after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)".

We hold the Indian Army in the highest regard. What happened at Mayo Road is not the Army’s doing. @BJP4India abused power to dismantle our Bhasha Andolan protest site despite prior permission being granted and security deposits being made.

It is the UNDEMOCRATIC,…

— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) September 1, 2025

He said that the party would shift the protest venue to Rani Rashmoni Road from in front of the Gandhi statue. "We hold the Indian Army in the highest regard. What happened at Mayo Road is not the Army’s doing. @BJP4India abused power to dismantle our Bhasha Andolan protest site despite prior permission being granted and security deposits being made," the Trinamool posted on its X handle.

The Maidan area is under the authority of the Indian Army, whose Eastern Command headquarters is situated nearby at Fort William.