kolkata

IIE DIGITAL DESK ; Kolkata, July 29: West Bengal BJP leader and state minister Dilip Ghosh on Tuesday issued a stern warning against those involved in violence during the ongoing NEET-related protests, shortly after a Kolkata court granted bail to 16 protesters who had been arrested during a demonstration at Dharmatala.

The 16 protesters, who were taken into custody while staging a demonstration over the NEET controversy, were granted bail by the Bankshall Court following an application filed in light of the Supreme Court's recent directions. The court accepted the plea, leading to the release of the arrested demonstrators.

Reacting to the development, Dilip Ghosh launched a sharp attack on the opposition and the student movement in West Bengal, asserting that while peaceful protests are a democratic right, no one would be allowed to violate the law under the guise of agitation.

Speaking to the media, Ghosh said student movements have always been a natural part of democratic politics in West Bengal and that students have every right to voice their concerns. However, he alleged that certain groups were attempting to hijack genuine student protests for political purposes and warned that strict legal action would be taken against those who resort to unlawful activities.

"Student movements are a normal part of Bengal's political culture. Students have every democratic right to protest. But those who try to hijack these movements and take the law into their own hands will not be spared. Legal action will continue against anyone who violates the law," Ghosh said.

The BJP leader also referred to recent protests in Delhi and other parts of the country, claiming that some demonstrations had crossed constitutional and legal boundaries. According to him, challenging the government cannot become an excuse for disorder or violations of the law, and authorities would act firmly wherever legal norms were breached.

Expanding his criticism beyond the NEET protests, Dilip Ghosh also targeted the Congress leadership, taking aim at MPs Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi. He claimed that the Congress leaders were struggling to remain politically relevant and accused them of making controversial remarks merely to stay in the media spotlight. According to Ghosh, the opposition currently lacks substantive public issues and is attempting to attract attention through provocative statements.

Turning his attention to West Bengal politics, Ghosh once again launched a strong attack on Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee. He alleged that widespread corruption had taken place across the Diamond Harbour region, including irregularities related to land, healthcare, and the education sector. He further claimed that illegal appointments had been made within the police department and alleged that many people had previously remained silent out of fear.

Ghosh asserted that the political atmosphere in the state was changing and claimed that more people were now coming forward to speak openly about alleged corruption and administrative irregularities. His remarks came amid continuing political tensions in West Bengal over the NEET issue, student protests, and the broader confrontation between the ruling establishment and opposition parties.