KOLKATA: Former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday courted fresh political controversy after a video purportedly showing her pushing an on-duty woman police officer during a face-off with Kolkata Police went viral on social media.The sources, however, could not independently verify the authenticity of the video.The incident occurred at Padmapukur, where police were dispersing TMC supporters after the Calcutta high court refused permission for a march proposed by Banerjee’s faction of the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) over the alleged NEET paper leak, news agency PTI reported.The Banerjee-led TMCP faction had planned to hold a rally from Padmapukur to Moulali via CIT Road.
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According to party leaders, Kolkata Police had initially granted permission for the march but later revoked it, citing the violence that broke out during demonstrations organised by Left student groups over the same issue on Friday.The Trinamool camp said TMCP leader Priyanka Adhikari received an email from the police on Saturday informing her that permission for the rally had been withdrawn in light of the previous day’s unrest.The faction then approached the Calcutta high court, which held a special holiday hearing but declined to grant any relief, PTI reported.Following the court’s order, police began removing supporters who had gathered at Padmapukur, leading to tense scenes and scuffles between party workers and security personnel.Police detained senior Trinamool leaders Kunal Ghosh, Baishwanar Chatterjee and several other leaders and supporters, taking them away in prison vans.After learning about the detentions, Banerjee reached Padmapukur along with senior party leader Derek O’Brien.She interacted with party workers and got into a heated exchange with police officers as they prevented the gathering from moving ahead.“They attacked me as well. This is not a democracy. We have come here to support the students’ movement. Our MLA and several other leaders have been arrested.” Banerjee said.“The wires to our sound system have been cut. I have come here to express solidarity. Our people did not create any obstruction. But the level of oppression by this government is beyond all limits,” she added.It was during this confrontation that the purported video, which rapidly circulated on social media, appeared to show Banerjee pushing a woman police officer.After spending some time at the protest site, Banerjee left riding pillion on a scooter without wearing a helmet and returned to her residence.She did not go to Lalbazar, contrary to earlier reports, PTI reported.The confrontation underscored the intensifying political confrontation over the alleged NEET paper leak, with Banerjee’s camp seeking to portray itself as standing with protesting students while accusing the administration of suppressing democratic dissent.Saturday’s developments followed clashes during protests organised by Left student organisations over the same issue a day earlier, after which police cited law-and-order concerns while opposing another procession.(With agency inputs)
