BJP complaint against Abhishek for ‘instigating’ speech

In his complaint filed through email, Lahiri has alleged that Abhishek tried to “incite” members of the ruling party towards committing the offence of “wrongful confinement and wrongful restraint” against all leaders, active members, followers, and supporters of the BJP in West Bengal on August 5, from 10 am to 6 pm.

“The nature of this instigation and intimidation not only goes against the principles of democracy but also constitutes a flagrant violation of the law. As per the Indian Constitution, every citizen of our nation is guaranteed the fundamental right to move freely throughout the territory of India. Acts such as wrongful confinement and wrongful restraint are explicitly recognized as punishable offences under the Indian legal system,” Lahiri wrote in his email complaint.

Speaking to mediapersons on Saturday, the BJP leader said, “Our party leaders will also move court against the speech. If any worker of our party is attacked, the TMC will be held responsible.”

TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Friday called for a peaceful sit-in outside houses of BJP leaders across West Bengal to protest against the Centre’s “refusal” to clear pending funds for the state.

Addressing his party’s July 21 Martyr’s Day rally in central Kolkata, Banerjee said, “I urge block-level leaders in all 341 blocks to prepare a list of BJP leaders in their area and gherao their houses for eight hours on August 5 in a peaceful manner. If there are any elderly members in the family, exempt them.”

Reacting to the BJP’s complaint against Abhishek, senior TMC leader and state minister Shashi Panja said the saffron party got “scared” by his speech.

“Didi (CM Mamata Banerjee) has specified that regarding the ‘BJP Gherao’ on August 5, the protesters will be 100 metres from the house of the BJP workers. Do they not understand that this is a protest for democratic rights? How is this wrong? The BJP also gave a similar call – to gherao BDO offices across the state,” Panja said.