Synopsis:
Nabanna Abhiyan led by BJP faces heavy police barricades in Kolkata and Howrah, halting protests before reaching Nabanna. Clashes reported, but no major unrest.
Nabanna Abhiyan Halted at Multiple Points
Kolkata, 09 August 2025
The Nabanna Abhiyan march, which began from Dharmatala with the parents of a recent assault victim at the forefront, saw top BJP leaders including Agnimitra Paul, Joel Murmu, and Ashis Biswas join in. Later, Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, along with several other MLAs, also joined the rally.
Although officially called at the request of the victim’s family, it was widely expected to turn into a BJP-led demonstration — and that’s exactly how it unfolded. However, by the end of the day, the party failed to achieve its intended impact.
Police Barricades Choke March Routes
To block the Nabanna Abhiyan, police erected multiple layers of barricades across all main routes from Dharmatala, Sealdah, and Santragachi towards Nabanna. Unlike last year’s student-led protest that reached close to the state secretariat, this time the march was stopped far earlier.
At Santragachi, tensions flared around noon when protesters tried breaking through barriers. In Dharmatala, a large crowd split into two groups, one staying in place while the other moved towards Hastings in an attempt to cross the Second Hooghly Bridge. The route was quickly diverted, and subsequent attempts to bypass barricades led to scuffles with police.
Clashes and Minor Injuries
During one confrontation, the victim’s mother sustained a head injury and broke a bangle. While she accused the police of using lathis, authorities claimed she tripped. She and about thirty protesters reached the final barricade near the bridge ramp but were unable to breach it.
Later, feeling unwell, she was taken to a private hospital, and BJP leaders withdrew from the location. Suvendu Adhikari stated that the decision to end the protest was partly to allow junior doctors to hold their own rally at Kalighat later in the day.
Muted Outcome for BJP
While the Nabanna Abhiyan managed to disrupt central Kolkata and parts of Howrah for several hours, it lacked the scale and chaos of previous marches. Police did not deploy water cannons, though they did use batons in limited instances.
By evening, BJP leaders insisted the march was “successful,” but political analysts noted it was relatively subdued — more a controlled demonstration than the high-voltage agitation the party may have intended.
