Watch: Elderly man braves water cannons at Kolkata’s 'Nabanna Abhijan' rally

A video of an elderly man dressed in saffron braving water cannons by the police in the Indian city ofKolkatahas gone viral on social media. The video was reportedly taken amid the chaos in Kolkata duringthe ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ rally. The rally was organised to seek justice for the rape and murder of a 31-year-olddoctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

The elderly man is seen waving the tricolour, standing strong despite the police’s efforts to disperse the agitated crowd protesting in the ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ rally. He has been dubbedahero of the protests against the government in West Bengal. The video is widely shared by the political leaders and supporters of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

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The incident is from the ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ rally organised by the Paschim Banga Chatra Samaj, demanding justice for the Kolkata rape and murder victim. The BJP West Bengal shared the video on their X (formerly Twitter) account with the caption in Bangla saying, “8-80 is standing like this in front of the ruler demanding justice, resign if you are ashamed.”

Many BJP leaders and activists widely shared the video of the man waving the national flag amid chaos and a massive crowd.

৮-৮০ বিচারের দাবিতে শাসকের সামনে এভাবেই রুখে দাঁড়াচ্ছে, লজ্জা থাকলে পদত্যাগ করুন। #NabannoCholo pic.twitter.com/kPBWBgLV0H — BJP West Bengal (@BJP4Bengal) August 27, 2024

IT cell head of BJP, Amit Malviya, also shared the video on X stating, “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.”

In response to the violence at the rally Tuesday, BJP called a 12-hour-Bengal Bandh on Wednesday (Aug 28), which started at 6:00 am (local time). The police used water cannons to disperse the agitated crowd at Santragachi in Howrah.

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Reacting to the video, BJP leader Locket Chatterjee took to X and said that the man is defining his steadfast determination against the government led by West Bengal Chief MinisterMamta Banerjee.

Chatterjeewrote,“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 @MamataOfficial. I stand by him, the people of the state stand by him and the entire country is standing by him.”

(With inputs from agencies)