Kolkata: BJP workers clash with cops, turn CR Avenue into war zone

KOLKATA: A stretch of Central Avenue and streets leading off it turned into a battlefield on Wednesday afternoon when BJP Yuva Morcha activists protesting against high power tariff clashed with police. After significantly increasing its tally in the last Lok Sabha election, the BJP is now keen on flagging local issues ahead of the 2020 civic polls and 2021 assembly election.

Police set up a barricade near E-Mall, then lathicharged and used tear gas and water canons to disperse the protesters marching towards CESC headquarters at Victoria House.BJP state general secretary Sayantan Basu claimed 50 BJP activists were injured in the clampdown. Three persons were hospitalised. Police, too, said six cops, including Burrabazar OC Salil Kumar Chatterjee, were injured by brickbats hurled by the Yuva Morcha protesters.
“We were going to Victoria House to submit a memorandum demanding lowering of the power tariff, which is among the highest in the country. Not just Kolkata, the power tariff across Bengal is very high. Bengal has surplus power and sells the excess electricity at a cheaper rate to other states. Also, a significant amount of power is lost in theft and hooking. Those involved in the power theft enjoy protection of the party in power here. Why should the common man be burdened?” asked Basu.
Power tariff in the state has not been raised in the past three years and there was no official comment from CESC on the issue.
The Chalo Victoria House protest was to start at 9.30am but was deferred to 11am due to rain. After it began from the state BJP headquarters on Murlidhar Street, the BJP Yuva Morcha and BJP Mahila Morcha workers — led by MP Locket Chatterjee — made their way through Central Avenue till they were stopped near E-Mall.
“The BJP had initially said the march would end near E-Mall and 10 people would then proceed to Victoria House to submit a memorandum. Accordingly, a barricade was put up there. It was only when protesters tried to storm the barricade that we used water canons and mild force. When the brickbatting began, we used tear gas,” an officer said. Altogether, 87 supporters, including BJP leaders Basu and Debjit Sarkar, were held. A car was damaged by protesters.
In the past, SUCI(C) took the lead in protests over power bill and clashed with cops while attempting to march to Victoria House. This is the first time BJP has taken up the issue that affects over 24 lakh households in the city.