KMC removes billboard from Abhishek Banerjee’s office after scuffle

Kolkata, Aug 27 (IANS) Officials of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), with the help of Kolkata Police, on Thursday finally removed the giant billboard carrying the name of “All India Trinamool Congress” and the party’s logo from the roof of the party office of Trinamool Congress general secretary and Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee. The KMC and police officials successfully removed it on the second attempt. Initially, when the joint team reached the office in the afternoon, Abhishek and his associates challenged the KMC notice's legal validity. Abhishek, also the nephew of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, argued that the notice was invalid because the billboard picture was not attached to the order copy. The KMC officials returned to get a revised order. They returned soon with the revised order, and this time the police cordoned off the entire area. Thereafter, KMC officials, accompanied by the cops, climbed the stairs to reach the roof of the building to remove the billboard. Abhishek’s associates, including Trinamool Rajya Sabha member Derek O’Brien, tried to block their movement by forming human walls on the staircase. Those blocking the path included some Trinamool women activists. A scuffle between the police and Trinamool supporters followed. Caught in the scuffle, O’Brien fell on the staircase but did not sustain injuries. Finally, the police cleared the way for KMC officials to reach the roof, break the billboard and remove it. A huge police contingent has continued to be deployed there to prevent any further escalation of tension. Earlier, Abhishek launched a scathing attack against the state government, KMC and Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. He alleged that the administration was targeting Trinamool offices. “There is an attempt to end the Trinamool Congress forcibly. Why is the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) so scared? The ruling party and the administration are attacking leaders, destroying party offices and breaking billboards. What are they afraid of? I want to tell Suvendu Adhikari that the Trinamool Congress symbol is a grass flower. The more the grass is cut, the more it will grow,” he said. He also alleged that the administration was specifically targeting the billboard of his party office at Camac Street. In contrast, many other billboards of offices and shops in the area remained untouched. “We will move the Calcutta High Court against this move. Nobody is above the Indian Constitution,” he said. --IANS src/dan