Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar on Sunday warned chief minister Mamata Banerjee and the police that his party would retaliate if state power was unleashed on protesters during the August 27 march to Nabanna demanding Mamata Banerjee's resignation over the RG Kar brutality, called by Chhatro Samaj, an ostensibly apolitical group.
"In case of police atrocities (on the August 27 protesters), I want to warn the Bengal police and the chief minister that the BJP is a party of Dr Syama Prasad (Mookerjee), who advocated protesting and resisting injustice, and retaliating if necessary. We will treat the Bengal government according to his principles," Majumdar said during his speech at a dharna near the Shyambazar Metro station.
Majumdar, who is also a Union minister of state for education and development of the northeastern region (DONER), stressed that although the event was not organised by the BJP, the party would be prepared with ambulances.
"The party will not participate organisationally in the August 27 march, but we support the movement and all such apolitical protests. If any brutality or atrocity occurs against the protesters, we will be ready with ambulances to provide them with medical support," he added.
Since the announcement of the August 27 march to Nabanna by the students' society, the ruling Trinamul Congress has claimed that the event was a veiled political programme by the BJP.
Majumdar's comments on Sunday bolstered TMC's stance.
"His (Majumdar's) comments have made it clear that this is actually a BJP event. If the people are demanding justice, the march should head towards the CBI office, not Nabanna. Since the demand is for the resignation of the chief minister, it is a political vendetta planned by the BJP, the CPM and the Congress. We hope the people of this state understand this political ploy," said TMC leader Kunal Ghosh.
Majumdar also announced that the BJP would start a fresh round of dharna near Esplanade (Dorina crossing) from August 28 and continue till Mamata resigns.
BJP women leaders would lock the office of state women's commission in Calcutta on the same day.
He urged the people to light a lamp in every house in Bengal on Monday to show solidarity with the RG Kar victim. Bengal BJP workers would gherao the district magistrate's office across all districts demanding Mamata's resignation on August 29.
On September 2, the BJP will organise dharna at each of the 341 blocks. On September 4, the BJP would block roads across the state for an hour from 11am.
A source said that the TMC was confused and under pressure about how to counter this ostensibly apolitical movement, given that the event would not feature flags of any political party.
While some leaders have started interacting with potential groups to discourage them from joining Tuesday's march, many ruling party leaders are hesitant as mass outrage against the state government continues to simmer.
A source said there was a buzz that around 9,000 protesters, demanding fair recruitment in the School Service Commission and other government jobs, would join the August 27 march.
Tanmoy Ghosh, a TMC state general secretary, met representatives of these groups on Sunday to ensure their members did not join the march to Nabanna.
"They came to me with their multiple demands. After the meeting, they assured me that they would not join the march, which is a veiled event organised by the BJP," said Ghosh.
Since the call did not come from any political party, Trinamool and the state government are uncertain about the strength of the crowd on that day.
A senior police officer said they were closely monitoring social media platforms to estimate how many people would come and from which areas.
A source said that despite the march being apolitical, leaders of various saffron camps were helping protesters with logistical support such as transport.
A senior TMC leader stated that the party would not counter the move politically as the call for the march was officially apolitical.
"Our leaders are gathering information about those organising crowds to come to Calcutta. But many leaders are reluctant to discourage protesters from coming to Calcutta as common people won't support such a move," he said.