Governor Ananda Bose’s Message on Nabanna Abhijan Rally

As security tightened around the West Bengal state secretariat following the Nabanna Abhijan rally, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Tuesday urged the state government not to use power to stop “students who are peacefully protesting”.
He also reminded the state government of the Supreme Court verdict and said democracy cannot silence the majority.
In a video message, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose said, “In the context of the peaceful protest announced by the student community of West Bengal and the reported suppression of the protest by some government instructions, I urge the government to remember the strong statement of the Supreme Court of India, not to let the power of the state of West Bengal be unleashed on the peaceful protesters. Democracy cannot silence the majority, cannot silence the majority, cannot silence the majority! Remember it.”
The ‘Nabanna Abhijan rally’ is called by Paschim Banga Chatra Samaj and other organisations to protest the recent rape and murder of a female trainee doctor in Kolkata.
West Bengal Police on Monday termed the Nabanna Abhijan rally aimed at reaching Nabanna or the state secretariat as “illegal” and called it an attempt to incite widespread unrest in Kolkata.
Meanwhile, ahead of the protest, police deployed vajra vehicles, water cannons and riot control forces in the area while containers were placed to block roads.
According to Nabanna Abhiyan, Kolkata Police has also issued a traffic advisory and effected diversions on several routes connecting the city to various regions.
Earlier on Monday, Kolkata Deputy Commissioner of Police Supratim Sarkar said they had rejected a request from ‘Paschimbanga Chhatro Samaj’ to hold a rally called ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ on August 27.
He added that police rejected their request because the group had not sought formal permission and had not provided sufficient details.
The brutal rape and murder of a medical intern on the premises of RG Kar Hospital and Medical College has sparked outrage across the country. The incident shook the entire nation and since then, several protests have been held demanding justice for the victim.
The intern doctor was found dead in the seminar room of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9