Siliguri, 28th August: Political tensions soared in Siliguri on Wednesday as both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) staged rallies on the same road amid the ongoing 12-hour bandh called by the BJP across West Bengal.
BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh led a rally on Hill Cart Road, urging businesses and the public to support the bandh. Ghosh was actively involved in the rally throughout the morning, aiming to ensure the success of the bandh in Siliguri.
In response, the TMC organized a counter-rally on the same road to protest against the bandh. The presence of both BJP and TMC rallies intensified the political atmosphere, leading to heightened tensions.
Police were deployed at the scene to manage the situation and maintain order. MLA Shankar Ghosh criticized the TMC’s rally, accusing it of being orchestrated in collaboration with the police to intimidate citizens. He asserted that the people of Siliguri are supporting the bandh.
Conversely, Bikash Sarkar of the TMC stated that the rally was held in opposition to the bandh as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is against the bandh called by the BJP.