In a big setback to West Bengal state government and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the Calcutta High Court, on Tuesday gave its approval to ‘Droho Carnival’ or protest carnival of masses (protest by doctors against the murder and rape of a junior doctor at the RG Medical College & Hospital). On the sideline, Mamata Banerjee plans to hold the Puja Carnival on Red Road in Kolkata.
The state government tried its best to stop the protest carnival. Since morning the police had been putting up guardrails (barricades) across the route of the carnival. The police transformed the city into a fortress and chained the barricades with locks. Immediately, after the landmark judgement, Mamata Banerjee’s police were compelled to remove making way for the doctors and people to attend the Droho carnival.
In order to stop the ‘Droho Carnival’, Kolkata police invoked Section 163 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, across nine major locations, including Rani Rashmoni Avenue near the RG Kar Medical College protest site. Justice Ravi Krishan Kapur of Calcutta High Court reprimanded the administration by asking how was it possible to have Section-163 for the ‘Droho Carnival’ and not Puja Carnival when restrictions is applicable for Kolkata? Justice Kapur came down heavily on police by asking, “Is the police not capable of managing two carnivals in the city?” The police which has already lost its face after the former Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal was removed for trying to hush-up the case by calling it as “suicide”. The Supreme Court too had reprimanded the state police and ordered Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to man the RG Kar Hospital premises by removing the Kolkata Police.
However, the Court said, “Barricades will be allowed only on Red Road and Rani Rashmoni Road”.
From protesting doctors to common people in the city started rushing to the venue to attend the ‘Droho Carnival’. The Calcutta High Court in its judgement said anybody and everybody can participate in the ‘Droho Carnival’ and stated government has no right to stop anybody from joining the protest carnival.
Tuesday’s development has caused immense embarrassment for the state government.
