Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, August 30, 2024, Kolkata: Leader of the Opposition, Shubhendu Adhikari, issued a stern warning against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, claiming that “Mamata Banerjee will be destroyed in the tears of mothers.” He further asserted that the situation of the Kolkata and state police would become worse than that in Bangladesh.
Adhikari also criticized Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s remarks made at a rally on Mayo Road, stating that she is “trembling with fear.” He accused her of having “blood on her hands.” His comments came after the arrest of Sion Lahiri, a prominent face of the West Bengal student movement, who was taken into custody by the police last night and remanded to 14 days of police custody.
Adhikari claimed that around 70 people arrested during the “Navanna Chalo” program have been held in custody at Bankshal and Metropolitan Courts. With Sion’s mother sitting beside him, Adhikari assured that the BJP would provide legal assistance to all those arrested, including Sion. “A contact number has already been released by the party. We will field senior lawyers in the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court for Sion. We believe we will get justice in the court regarding Mamata’s politics of revenge,” he said.
Calling Sion a “nationalist and protesting youth,” Shubhendu added, “He is active on social media. I am not aware that students were involved in politics like this, but he was protesting against injustice. Three cases have been filed against him.” He also challenged Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal, saying, “Show me any evidence of Sion breaking barricades, attacking the police, or engaging in vandalism or anarchy.”
Sion’s mother, who lost her husband when Sion was young, said that neither she nor her son is afraid. Sion, an MBA student and a former student of Ballygunge Government School, has been accused of charges that his family and Adhikari claim are “completely baseless.”
Convinced of Sion’s innocence and the innocence of others involved, Adhikari stated, “I myself have faced 47 cases; no section was left out. I don’t engage in the politics of revenge!” Referring to the three-hour protest at Nabanna, which he described as a “non-political program,” he said, “The Chief Minister’s actions using the police will have consequences.”