Elderly Kolkata Protester Facing Water Cannons Sparks Debate. Student? TMC Asks. Determination, BJP Says

An elderly man, who braved water cannons while protesting against the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government with tricolour in his hand on Tuesday in connection with the rape and murder of Kolkata doctor, is going viral on social media. While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) termed his courage as the ‘spirit of defiance’, netizens hailed him for standing up against the TMC government’s oppression.

The man came into the spotlight after several BJP leaders shared visuals of him facing water cannons against the Mamata Banerjee-led dispensation.

In a viral video clip, the man could be heard telling cameras capturing the moment that Kolkata Police should wear bangles.

A large crowd on Tuesday gathered around College Square in Kolkata to be a part of the ‘Nabanna Abhiyan’ protest march on Tuesday. However, soon after the rally began tense visuals appeared from the state as the police launched lathi-charge, water cannons and tear gas during the protest to disperse the protestors. However, the police said that the action was taken after the protesters in Kolkata broke barricades and pelted stones.

Symbol of Defiance: BJP Shares Visuals Of Man Facing Water Cannons

BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya took to his official handle to share the video of a man holding the national flag as the police used water canon to disperse the protestors. “The man, waving a national flag, on the iconic Howrah bridge, amidst blazing water cannon, is the ultimate symbol of defiance against an oppressive Mamata Banerjee regime,” Malviya wrote.

BJP leader Locket Chatterjee also shared the visuals of the protest where the old man wearing saffron-coloured clothes was seen facing water cannons while waving the national flag. “Saffron has always stood tall against injustice, and this marks the beginning of the TMC government’s downfall. Arrogance, lawlessness, and unchecked egos will soon face their consequences. This video captures the spirit of defiance and the demand for accountability,” she said in a tweet.

“End anarchy, end fascism. We all demand the end of TMC’s tyranny. With the Tiranga in hand amid blasting water cannons, this man is defining his steadfast determination against the oppression of Mamata Banerjee. I stand by him, the people of the state stand by him and the entire country is standing by him.”

TMC Hits Back

While the BJP hailed the man for his courage for standing up against the ruling regime, the Trinamool Congress pointed out that the man is not a student and termed him as one of the “BJP hooligans”.

TMC leader Riju Datta took to X and shared pictures of several protestors stating that they are not protesting students. “These are not students. These are Hooligans of BJP.

“They wanted ‘Dead Bodies’, they wanted to create Anarchy like Bangladesh in Bengal. They pelted stones at police, broke barricades, destroyed police vehicles, set fire to motorcycles, multiple police badly injured, IC Chanditala head split wide open… This will NOT BE TOLERATED! I, want to sincerely thank Bengal Police for keeping their composure even under attack and restoring Law & Order!” he added. 

Another TMC leader Gautam Deb brought in the reference of popular web series Panchayat’s dialogue and wrote, “Kijiye Studying Studying, Kheliye Studying Studying, Karte Rahiye Studying Studying. Fresh young students of BJP were found bunking their classes during today’s vandalism.”

Netizens React

Apart from the BJP vs TMC tussle over the protest and police action, several social media users shared the man’s video saying, “Hats off to his courage.”

While several social media users hailed the man for his courage, there was a section of social media who questioned the presence of the elderly man in the students protest. Taking a jibe at the man, one user write, “Student Dadu. According to ABP Ananda and BJP IT cell, this man with a white beard, asking police to wear bangles is a STUDENT. He has hit the streets of Kolkata “as a student” to protest against the RG Kar incident.”

The whole incident flared up after water cannons were fired upon protesters for raising banners and slogans, demanding justice for the rape and murder of a 31-year-old Kolkata doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Notably, today’s rally was organised by the student platform ‘Chhatrasamaj’ and ‘Sangrami Joutha Mancha’ of state government employees.