'Illegal and inhumane': Mamata Banerjee leads march against hawker eviction in Kolkata
Kolkata: Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday joined a protest march in Kolkata's Dharmatala area against the alleged eviction of hawkers and demolition of roadside stalls across West Bengal, escalating the political battle over recent anti-encroachment drives in the state.
Leading party workers, leaders and hundreds of supporters, Banerjee took part in the demonstration organised to oppose what the TMC described as ‘illegal, unjust and deeply inhumane’ actions against street vendors whose livelihoods depend on roadside businesses.
In a statement shared on social media, the TMC said the protest was aimed at defending the rights and livelihoods of thousands of hawkers affected by recent demolition drives.
The party asserted that the interests of Bengal's people would remain its top priority.
‘Our Hon'ble Chairperson Mamata Banerjee, alongside party leaders and dedicated workers, led a peaceful protest march against the illegal, unjust and deeply inhumane eviction of hawkers across Bengal,’ the party said.
The TMC further accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of pursuing policies that hurt ordinary citizens, claiming that the ruling party at the Centre was driven by a quest for power rather than concern for people's welfare.
The latest flashpoint emerged on June 7 when authorities carried out a demolition drive along Jadavpur Station Road in Kolkata, using bulldozers to remove makeshift shops and hawker stalls.
The action triggered protests from residents, students and activists, who gathered at the site and raised slogans against the administration.
As tensions escalated, police reportedly resorted to a lathi-charge to disperse protesters. Personnel from the state police, central forces and the Rapid Action Force were deployed in the area to maintain order.
The issue has become a major political talking point in West Bengal, with TMC leaders repeatedly criticising demolition and anti-encroachment operations.
Earlier, senior TMC leader Kunal Ghosh accused the BJP of prioritising bulldozer politics over public welfare, saying the government's focus should be on ‘food, clothing and shelter’ rather than demolition drives.
With the hawker eviction issue gaining political traction, the latest protest is expected to intensify the confrontation between the TMC and BJP ahead of future electoral battles in the state.