Mamata takes exception to the dismantling of a TMC stage by Army in Kolkata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday (September 1, 2025) took strong exception to personnel of the Indian Army dismantling a stage set up by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) next to the Gandhi statue at Mayo Road in Kolkata.

The Chief Minister accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of using the Indian Army to dismantle the TMC’s stage. “They [the Army] should have consulted the Kolkata Police Commissioner, who in turn would have told us and we would have removed the stage,” Ms. Banerjee told journalists at the venue where the stage had been set up.

Indian Army personnel dismantling the Trinamool Congress stage at Mayo Road in Kolkata on September 1, 2025
| Photo Credit:
DEBASISH BHADURI

Reminders had been sent to the organisers for removal of the temporary structure, which was, however, not removed, a statement by the Union Ministry of Defence (MoD) said. The Kolkata Police had been informed, and the structure was being removed by the Indian Army, the statement added.

After a group of Indian Army personnel began dismantling the TMC’s stage on Monday afternoon, Ms. Banerjee rushed to the venue. The Chief Minister claimed that the Army personnel ran away after they saw her. “There were about 200 of them. I told them — you are my friends, we are proud of you, why are you running away?” she said.

Mayo Road falls under the jurisdiction of the Indian Army’s Eastern Command. The stage was put up by the TMC to protest against the targeting of Bengali-speaking migrants in States across the country. West Bengal’s ruling party held protests on the issue during the weekend.

The Trinamool Congress chairperson called for a State-wide protest over the incident, and said that the party would shift its protest venue from Mayo Road to Rani Rashmoni Road, where the demonstration would be held every day.

The MoD’s statement said the local military authority of the Indian Army in Kolkata provided permission for events in the maidan area for a duration of two days, as directed by the Supreme Court of India. “Permission for events greater than three days needs to be obtained from the MoD, Government of India. Permission for conduct of events was provided for two days. However, the stage has been put up for almost a month,” the MoD’s statement said.

Ms. Banerjee said she was not blaming the Indian Army for dismantling the stage but blaming the BJP for misusing the Indian Army. “They cannot forcibly remove our flags. Army is not guilty. The dirty politics behind it is,” the West Bengal CM said.