Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has accused the Indian central government of double standards regarding bandh protests in Maharashtra and West Bengal. Raut’s remarks came in response to a recent 12-hour bandh called by the BJP in West Bengal, following a tragic incident involving a trainee doctor’s murder and alleged sexual assault. He highlighted perceived inconsistencies in how bandhs are managed based on political affiliations, contrasting the treatment of similar protests in Maharashtra.
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- Sanjay Raut criticized the Centre for its double standards in handling bandh protests in Maharashtra and West Bengal.
- Raut claimed that a bandh in Maharashtra was stopped by authorities because of the BJP-led government, whereas the Bengal Bandh was allowed.
- The Bengal Bandh was called by the BJP in response to the murder and alleged sexual assault of a trainee doctor in Kolkata.
- Raut noted that the Maharashtra bandh was stopped despite similar issues of sexual assault occurring in the state.
- The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi had also called for a bandh in Maharashtra to protest alleged sexual assaults in Badlapur.
- Raut pointed out that the accused in the Maharashtra case was arrested, and action was taken by the Mamata Banerjee government.
- He accused the BJP of attacking police in West Bengal, despite police action being taken in the RG Kar Medical College incident.
- The Trinamool Congress party staged a protest against the BJP’s 12-hour Bengal Bandh, accusing the BJP of creating anarchy.
- TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh emphasized that the Bengal Bandh was rejected by the people of West Bengal and claimed that everything was normal.
- The “Nabanna Abhiyan” rally in Kolkata saw clashes between protesters and police, with the latter using water cannons, lathi-charge, and tear gas to disperse crowds.
