Army dismantles TMC stage: CM Mamata cries foul; urges force to not ‘play into BJP’s hands’ | India News

NEW DELHI: The Army on Monday dismantled a stage erected by the Trinamool Congress near the Gandhi statue in Kolkata’s Maidan, where the party had been protesting alleged atrocities on Bengali-speaking migrant workers.A defence official told PTI that the Army (Local military Authority, Kolkata) usually permits the events in the Maidan area for a duration of two days, as directed by the Supreme Court, but for three days, one needs permission from the ministry of defence. “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.He said that the city police officials were present at the site to ensure maintenance of law and order.TMC chief and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee accused BJP of using Army as their toy and urged them to not be played in the hands of the Saffron party.“I do not blame the Army, but the BJP’s vendetta politics is behind it. The double-engine government of the BJP is to be blamed. They are misusing the Army. This is unethical, undemocratic,” Banerjee, who rushed to the spot, told reporters.” want to use the Army for their own purpose. This is the message of the day. They don’t care about internal security and border security. They should not do this…We had permission for the event, we had also paid the fee…” she added. She said that the Army should have consulted the Kolkata Police before dismantling the stage and added that they could have called her, she would remove the stage within minutes. “I don’t blame the Army, just appeal to them to remain neutral and not play in the hands of the BJP,” the Bengal CM said.TMC’s Kunal Ghosh alleged political targeting, accusing the Centre of “bringing in the Army after the ED and CBI,” and said the protest would shift to Rani Rashmoni Road.The Maidan area is under the authority of the Indian Army, whose Eastern Command headquarters is situated nearby at Fort William.