The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Thursday hit the streets across major railway hubs in and around Kolkata, staging fierce protests against the recent eviction drives targeting railway hawkers and residents. The fresh agitation follows a series of sit-ins inside the State Legislative Assembly by TMC MLAs, who have been protesting post-poll violence and displacement.
Massive Demonstration Held at Sealdah
While the party managed to hold a massive demonstration at the Sealdah station area, similar protests in Howrah and Ballygunge were blocked due to a lack of police permission.
At Sealdah, senior TMC leaders, including Kunal Ghosh, Nayana Bandyopadhyay, and Madan Mitra, led a large-scale demonstration alongside representatives of party-backed labor unions.
Addressing the gathering, Kunal Ghosh issued a stern warning against the unilateral removal of hawkers.
“We will not tolerate any eviction drive without prior rehabilitation. The administration cannot simply snatch away the livelihood of poor people,” Ghosh stated.
TMC Targets Centre Over Eviction Drive
The leadership strongly condemned the central authorities, labeling the current administration as a “BJP-run bulldozer government.” In an official statement, the TMC emphasized that families cannot be left homeless in the name of development.
“People are not disposable items. Their lives, livelihoods, and futures hold immense value. Before destroying homes and rendering families destitute, the administration must ensure a dignified rehabilitation package and alternative accommodation for every single affected individual,” the party statement read.
Police Block Protests in Howrah and Ballygunge
The protest momentum, however, faced administrative hurdles elsewhere. In Howrah, the local police denied permission for the TMC rally, citing security protocols and an overlapping pre-scheduled program by Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari.
Similarly, the demonstration planned at Ballygunge railway station had to be called off entirely after the police refused to grant the necessary clearance, preventing TMC workers from assembling in the station vicinity.
TMC Signals Statewide Agitation
Despite the setbacks in Howrah and Ballygunge, TMC leadership indicated that the party will continue to intensify its block-level agitations across the state against what it described as “anti-people” eviction policies.
