Row over joint rally by CJP-Left parties in Kolkata

Kolkata, July 24 (IANS) Tension flared up at the busy Esplanade area in West Bengal’s Kolkata on Friday over a joint rally by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and the youth and the students’ wings of different Left parties over the NEET examination paper leak.

For some time, the entire Esplanade area turned into a virtual battlefield following clashes between the protesters and the policemen.

Tension flared up as the protesters started hurling glass bottles, bricks and shoes towards the huge police contingent deployed over the rally.

The protesters assembled at the Dorin Crossing near Esplanade in Kolkata.

As they started moving towards the Rani Rashmoni Road, the huge police contingent stopped them and tried to disperse them.

A huge procession was seen on Kolkata’s main roads since Friday noon.

Left student organisations started a procession from Sealdah to Esplanade demanding transparency in exams like the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Later, the CJP supporters also joined them in the rally.

The security personnel also retaliated. First, they reported to baton-charge to disperse the unruly mob. Later, teargas shells were also charged. For some time, the entire Esplanade area turned into a virtual battlefield causing massive traffic congestions there and the adjoining area.

At the time the report was filed, the police were yet to give any statement on the number of persons arrested in this connection.

Some of the media persons covering the event were also heckled by the protesters.

Earlier on Friday, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari cautioned that he would not tolerate any unruly or anti-social activities over the rally.

He also said that even anti-national slogans raised from the rally will not be tolerated.

The CJP first wanted to organise a protest rally in the city on its own on Friday, however, after being denied the police permission, it decided to join the protest rally organised by the students’ and youth wings of the different Left parties.

–IANS

src/khz