Congress rally in Kolkata against atrocities on workers, hawker evictions
Congress leaders and workers took out a march “Lalbazaar Satyagraha” in Kolkata on Wednesday (August 5, 2026) towards the Kolkata Police headquarters protesting against the
Congress leaders and workers took out a march “Lalbazaar Satyagraha” in Kolkata on Wednesday (August 5, 2026) towards the Kolkata Police headquarters protesting against the alleged atrocities against their workers, eviction of hawkers, and police action against students. Hundreds of Congress workers and multiple leaders like State president Subhankar Sarkar, Prakash Joshi, and others were present at the protest march in the heart of Kolkata which started from College Street to Lalbazaar. They alleged that many party workers who were on their way to the July 21 Martyrs’ Day rally in Kolkata were attacked, calling for the West Bengal Government and police to take strict action against the perpetrators of the violence.
Commenting on the issues raised by them, Mr. Sarkar said that they will not scuffle with the police but would rather start a sit-in demonstration anywhere where the police stopped their march. “We want to tell the police, since they cannot do their work, the Bharatiya Janta Party workers have taken your batons and are ruling over people. If this continues then there will be no land of the law left here,” Mr, Sarkar added. Even with the change in government in the State, the condition and workings of the police have not changed, he said.
Sarkar further alleged that every government is using the police to serve their own causes and their party’s agendas. “A lot of Congress workers were attacked on July 21, many were admitted to the hospital, but till today there has been no impartial enquiry into the matter by our police minister Suvendu Adhikari. Through Satyagraha we are asking for an investigation,” senior Congress leader Suman Roy Chaudhuri said. The march was stopped by police barricades near the Bentinck Street crossing in central Kolkata.
Congress workers offered flowers and chocolates to the police. Meanwhile, West Bengal Government minister and BJP leader Sharadwat Mukherjee said that Congress has become irrelevant and hence is trying new ways to stay relevant.
