The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Tuesday alleged that its Martyrs’ Day stage near Kolkata’s Birla Planetarium was vandalised overnight, prompting party chief Mamata Banerjee and several senior leaders to remain at the venue through the night. The stage was rebuilt before morning, and the party said the annual tribute programme would proceed as scheduled.
The TMC observes July 21 as Martyrs’ Day every year in memory of the 13 Congress workers who were killed in police firing during a protest in Kolkata in 1993. This year, three separate TMC factions are scheduled to organise individual Martyrs’ Day programmes in the city.
Banerjee had visited the venue on Monday evening, where she alleged that attempts were being made to obstruct the party’s preparations. She claimed that supporters travelling to Kolkata for the event were facing difficulties and were being denied accommodation.
Later in the night, the party alleged that unidentified miscreants damaged a section of the stage, tore down banners and hoardings, and disrupted electricity and microphone connections. Following the incident, Banerjee, along with senior TMC leaders including Dola Sen and Derek O’Brien, returned to the venue and decided to remain there overnight to prevent any further disruption.
"Our supporters are being prevented from coming to the meeting. The police are threatening the families of the martyrs not to come. We are only trying to pay tribute to the martyrs, yet our stage has been broken, electricity and microphone lines disconnected, and posters and banners torn down," Banerjee alleged.
She further claimed that "around 60 BJP-backed goons" were responsible for the vandalism and alleged that "there has been a conspiracy from the beginning to sabotage the event, with the police on one side and the BJP on the other."
In a Facebook Live broadcast around 1.30 am, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra also alleged an attempt to derail the programme.
"Someone tried to sabotage the Martyrs’ Day programme led by Mamata Banerjee. We will not bow down to this. The stage has been restored, and Martyrs’ Day will be observed as planned. Party workers and supporters should join without any worry," Moitra said.
By Tuesday morning, workers had reconstructed the damaged portions of the stage, and preparations for the event resumed.
Banerjee also paid tribute to the 1993 victims in a post on X.
"On #ShahidDibas, I pay my heartfelt tributes to the martyrs who tragically lost their lives in 1993. May this day strengthen the resolve of every member of the Maa-Mati-Manush family to uphold democracy, justice, and the rights of the people. Their sacrifice continues to inspire us, and their legacy will forever remain at the heart of our movement," she wrote.
