Tension erupted outside and inside Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee’s office on Camac Street on August 27, after a team from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), accompanied by police personnel, arrived to remove a billboard allegedly installed without the civic body’s permission.
The billboard, bearing the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) branding, was located on the rooftop of the office building.
Civic officials said the structure had been installed illegally and that the police had raised the issue with the KMC. They said they had been instructed to remove the billboard.
The arrival of the civic team and police, however, was opposed by Banerjee, who questioned the legality of the action and alleged that the move was politically motivated.
Abhishek Banerjee Questions Civic Action
Banerjee questioned why authorities were targeting his office when, according to him, several other billboards were installed along the same stretch of Camac Street.
He accused the BJP and Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari of political vendetta and questioned the basis on which the civic authorities had decided to remove the billboard.
The situation escalated when police and KMC officials attempted to enter the office premises and proceed towards the rooftop where the billboard was installed.
Banerjee and his supporters reportedly blocked their way, resulting in heated exchanges between the TMC workers and the police and civic officials.
Scuffle Inside Office Premises
The confrontation intensified after police attempted to enter the premises.
TMC leaders Vaishwanar Chattopadhyay and Derek O’Brien also reached the spot as the situation unfolded.
During the confrontation, O’Brien reportedly fell on a staircase amid the scuffle.
Police eventually entered the premises after forcing their way through a locked door and proceeded towards the rooftop. KMC officials then began removing the billboard.
The confrontation also involved women TMC workers and women police personnel. Both sides levelled allegations of physical assault and obstruction during the incident.
TMC Alleges Political Vendetta
Banerjee strongly objected to the civic action and questioned the authority of the municipal officials to decide which board could be displayed outside his office.
He also accused the authorities of acting selectively, arguing that other billboards in the area had not been subjected to similar action.
Banerjee said the TMC would approach the Calcutta High Court over the police action and alleged that the authorities were targeting his party.
Civic Officials Allege Obstruction
Municipal officials, meanwhile, alleged that Banerjee and his associates obstructed government officials from carrying out their duties.
According to the civic authorities, the billboard was installed without the required permission and the removal operation was being carried out on that basis.
The dispute therefore centred on both the legality of the billboard and the manner in which the removal operation was carried out.
Police Presence Increased
The confrontation led to tension on Camac Street, prompting the deployment of additional police personnel around Banerjee’s office.
Police and civic officials continued with the billboard removal operation despite the resistance from TMC workers.
The incident has since triggered a political confrontation, with the TMC alleging selective and politically motivated action, while civic authorities maintained that they were acting against an allegedly unauthorised structure.
Banerjee has indicated that the matter will be taken up before the Calcutta High Court.
