Mamata Banerjee protest LIVE: Mamata's protest for nephew today in Kolkata; ex-CM dares BJP to arrest her

MAmata Banerjee dissent unrecorded: Trinamool us congress (TMC) chief and former w Bengal Chief government minister Mamata Banerjee will lead a protest march in Kolkata on Tuesday, alleging post-poll violence against party leaders and workers.The protest is slated to take place on Rani Rashmoni Road and comes amid heightened political tensions following alleged attacks on TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and senior party leader Kalyan Banerjee.The BJP, however, has criticised the proposed demonstration. Reacting to the announcement, BJP leader Rahul Sinha questioned the purpose of the protest and said any public demonstration must be conducted with police permission, stressing that the decision rests with law enforcement authorities.Why the protests?The TMC will go ahead with its protests in Kolkata against the alleged attacks on party leaders, particularly Abhishek Banerjee and Kalyan Banerjee, and workers, as well as Railways' hawker eviction drive, despite the police denying permission for it, party supremo Mamata Banerjee said on Monday.She alleged that while the common people and small traders were living in fear, and hawkers were being evicted without a proper rehabilitation plan, the ruling BJP was using "money and power" to engineer defections in her party.The former chief minister, however, asserted that the departure of leaders from the party fold for personal interests would help rebuild the organisation, and the TMC would emerge stronger from the crisis.Mamata Banerjee's claimsBanerjee said that 12 TMC workers had been killed since the Assembly elections and that thousands of party activists had been arrested, while many others had been forced to flee their homes.She declared the protest would go ahead regardless of official permission. "If we are not allowed to hold a dharna there, I will sit wherever I am stopped. I am ready to be arrested," Banerjee said.Attack on Abhishek BanerjeeThe controversy began after Abhishek Banerjee alleged that he was attacked with bricks, stones and eggs while visiting families affected by post-poll violence in Sonarpur, in South 24 Parganas district, on Sunday.The TMC leader suffered an eye injury in the incident and claimed the assault was "BJP-sponsored," describing it as an attempt on his life. He also accused the police of failing to provide adequate security during the visit.According to TMC leader Kunal Ghosh, Banerjee is currently undergoing treatment and several medical tests are yet to be completed.BJP's responseResponding to Mamata Banerjee's proposed protest over the alleged attack on Abhishek Banerjee, BJP MP Rahul Sinha said there was no objection to demonstrations if they had police permission, but questioned the basis of the TMC's agitation.Claiming that all those involved in the incident had already been arrested, Sinha alleged that "the entire episode was orchestrated by Abhishek Banerjee himself, solely to malign the BJP and to bolster his demand for enhanced security."