New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday strongly condemned the alleged assault on journalists during the student protest at Esplanade and issued a statement in the Assembly on the incident. He also spoke about the ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities linked to the Sevashray programme.
Addressing the Assembly, the Chief Minister said he had personally met the journalists who were injured during the protest.
“I personally met the injured journalists. The police had been instructed that this is a democratic country and everyone has the right to express their views peacefully. The government had clearly directed that no force should be used unless the protesters went completely out of control,” he said.
Adhikari said the rally had initially progressed peacefully and, according to police estimates, around 9,000 people had participated.
He alleged that when the procession reached Dorina Crossing, shoes and bottles were thrown, targeting journalists. According to him, the intention was to provoke the police into using force.
“They wanted the police to resort to a baton charge so that the situation would escalate, but Kolkata Police did not fall into that trap. I thank the Kolkata Police,” he said.
The Chief Minister said written complaints had been received from journalists and that seven cases had been registered. He added that provisions of the state’s anti-goonda law had been invoked in the cases.
According to Adhikari, around 70 people had been identified in connection with the incident. He alleged that those identified were neither students nor members of the group leading the NEET-related protest.
He also named several individuals whom he accused of involvement in the violence, stating that strict legal action would be taken against them under the anti-goonda law.
“The entire Assembly condemns the physical assault on journalists,” Adhikari said, adding that BJP legislators would wear black badges during a programme near the B.R. Ambedkar statue to express solidarity with journalists.
The Chief Minister also addressed allegations concerning the Sevashray programme, claiming that complaints had been received regarding its implementation in Bishnupur and other areas.
Displaying photographs in the Assembly, Adhikari referred to people who had allegedly suffered serious injuries and criticised those responsible for organising the camps. He also made allegations against Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee, referring to him as a “cheat”.
Adhikari claimed that X-ray and ultrasound machines had been seized during the investigation and alleged that expired medicines had been recovered from a warehouse belonging to a person identified as Dilip Mondal. He said medicines with expiry dates from 2021 had been found, while stocks marked for 2025 had also been seized.
The Chief Minister also referred to a letter allegedly written by Dr Rajib Biswas of Diamond Harbour Medical College raising concerns about the Sevashray programme, and read portions of it in the Assembly.
He said the state government had written to the Union Departments of Atomic Energy and Health regarding the matter and that the CID, STF, and district police were carrying out investigations.
According to Adhikari, complaints filed by people who claimed to have been affected during Sevashray camps had been registered as FIRs.
“Those responsible for such serious offences will not be spared. Evidence is being collected, and appropriate action will be taken at the right time,” the Chief Minister said.
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