Mamata Banerjee, in lawyer's gown, at court to argue post-poll violence case
Mamata Banerjee, in lawyer's gown, at court to argue post-poll violence case
M.U.H
14/05/202615
Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, dressed in a black lawyer’s gown, appeared at the Calcutta High Court on Thursday in connection with a case related to allegations of post-poll violence in the state following the Trinamool Congress’s (TMC) drubbing in the Assembly elections.
The case, filed by Shirshanya Bandopadhyay, the son of senior TMC leader and advocate Kalyan Bandopadhyay, pertains to allegations of attacks on political workers and party offices following the high-stakes elections that ended the party's 15-year rule and brought the BJP to power in the state.
During the hearing, the former Chief Minister sought urgent protection for affected residents.
“My regard to all the judges because this is my first time appearing in the High Court. As a lawyer I’m fighting this case,” she said.
Presenting her arguments, she referred to visual material and alleged that “even children are not spared, women are not spared, minorities are not spared,” adding that she was submitting a list of ten persons she said had been murdered.
She also claimed that members of a Scheduled Caste family, including a 92-year-old widow, were displaced from their home, and alleged widespread ransacking of properties affecting people across communities.
Banerjee further told the court that “out of 10 dead, six are Hindus,” and alleged that police were not allowing FIRs to be registered.
She also raised concerns over threats, stating that in some cases “12-year-old girls are being threatened with rape.”
Describing the situation as deteriorating, she said incidents were increasing daily and claimed that even public spaces such as fish markets were being damaged. “We don’t have any problem with who wants to eat what,” she remarked, while pressing for immediate protection measures.
“Please protect the people of Bengal. This is not a bulldozer state,” she said.
She also referred to the alleged destruction of shops and houses and questioned law enforcement’s response, asking, “Is the police sleeping?”
“Police should prevent crime. After something has happened, they will not investigate?” she said, concluding her submission.
Earlier in the day, the TMC had tweeted that her physical appearance in court today reflected her continued commitment, saying that "she never abandons the people of Bengal in their hour of need"and remains committed in her fight for truth, justice, and constitutional values.
It added that she consistently rises above what it described as the politics of hatred, demonstrating “compassion, courage and conviction.”
"Whether confronting the injustice of SIR or standing firm against the unruly conduct of BJP, she continues to prove that there is truly no leader like her in the country today," it added.
The case, which remains under judicial consideration, comes at a politically turbulent moment for the TMC, which is facing internal churn and mounting criticism following its historic defeat.
Since the results were declared on May 4, multiple districts across the state have reported incidents of political violence, including clashes, vandalism, bomb attacks and retaliatory assaults, with both the BJP and the Trinamool Congress blaming each other for the unrest.
In one of the most high-profile incidents, Chandranath Rath, a close aide to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, was shot dead on May 6 by unidentified assailants, further intensifying the tense situation in the state.
