Following a recce for their July 21 Martyrs’ Day celebration outside Victoria House, Trinamool Congress leaders Kunal Ghosh, Dola Sen, and Baiswanar Chatterjee were charged under a new law penalizing obstruction on public ways, leading Kolkata Police to issue a 60-day ban on rallies at the location, restricting assemblies to five people and prohibiting sticks, while a recently passed public safety bill allows for up to 12 months of preventive detention for anti-social activities, all of which impacts the TMC's traditional show of strength rally that commemorates youth killed in 1993 police firing and has historically been a platform for significant party announcements.

Following a recce for their July 21 Martyrs’ Day celebration outside Victoria House, Trinamool Congress leaders Kunal Ghosh, Dola Sen, and Baiswanar Chatterjee were charged under a new law penalizing obstruction on public ways, leading Kolkata Police to issue a 60-day ban on rallies at the location, restricting assemblies to five people and prohibiting sticks, while a recently passed public safety bill allows for up to 12 months of preventive detention for anti-social activities, all of which impacts the TMC's traditional show of strength rally that commemorates youth killed in 1993 police firing and has historically been a platform for significant party announcements.

Following a recce for their July 21 Martyrs’ Day celebration outside Victoria House, Trinamool Congress leaders Kunal Ghosh, Dola Sen, and Baiswanar Chatterjee were charged under a new law penalizing obstruction on public ways, leading Kolkata Police to issue a 60-day ban on rallies at the location, restricting assemblies to five people and prohibiting sticks, while a recently passed public safety bill allows for up to 12 months of preventive detention for anti-social activities, all of which impacts the TMC's traditional show of strength rally that commemorates youth killed in 1993 police firing and has historically been a platform for significant party announcements.

What was meant to be a recce for the July 21 Martyrs’ Day celebration of Trinamool Congress (TMC) turned into an FIR against its leaders Kunal Ghosh, Dola Sen and Baiswanar Chatterjee on Monday. The three have been charged under section 285 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which penalises individuals who cause danger, obstruction, or injury to others in public ways or lines of navigation. The FIR was filed at Hare Street police station.

The Kolkata Police(KP) has now issued a circular on Tuesday banning rallies at Victoria House for 60 days. The June 30 notification issued by Police Commissioner Ajay Nand states that the restrictions will be in force from July 2 to August 30, 2026. The circular mentions restrictions in areas under Bowbazar PS, Hare Street PS and Headquarters Traffic Guard, from K.C. Das Crossing to Victoria House (CESC HQ) and adjoining areas, excluding Bentinck Street.

What this essentially means is that not more than five people can assemble for processions or rallies and cannot be seen carrying lathis or sticks. The notice mentions a possibility of unlawful assembly of large numbers of people likely to cause law and order problems.

A day earlier, on Monday, the West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Bill 2026 was passed, where a person can be detained for a maximum of 12 months under the preventive arrest norm for anti-social activities. The bill is meant to prevent any disturbance caused to public safety and disturbance of public peace and order.

The location where previous July 21 rallies were being surveyed by the TMC leaders, with a measuring tape and holding consultations with decorators, allegedly disrupted traffic. The three leaders had assembled at the location on Sunday for a little more than an hour, which obstructed traffic and caused inconvenience to commuters. Official approval for the event is yet to be granted by the police. 

“No one is allowed to hold rallies here. Section 163 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), similar to Section 144 of CrPC, is in place here,” said Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Nand. 

The police commissioner also stated that various political parties seek permission for rallies and permission is granted; the location is the state administration’s decision. “We give permission depending on the situation. It is treated on that basis only,” added the police commissioner. 

Ghosh responded to the FIR, saying the TMC assumed permission would be granted and that they are law-abiding citizens. “We will keep our preparations ready, assuming that permission will be granted. We didn’t hit the streets with bamboo sticks…we went with a measuring tape to take measurements. We want to hold it at the traditional venue,” said Kunal Ghosh. In the same line, Ghosh questioned why Red Road was closed for seven days for Yoga Day preparations. “They can keep Red Road shut for seven days for Yoga Day, but they can’t give a one-time permission for a few hours to us?” asked Ghosh. 

The importance of Martyrs’ Day for TMC 

The fight now is between the Mamata faction and Ritrabrata’s faction seeking police permission from both sides to hold the rally at the venue outside Victoria House. After the latest police circular, the scenario has changed for both parties, which will have to look for alternative venues. 

Since the party was founded in 1998, July 21 has been observed as Martyrs’ Day or Shahid Diwas.

The significance of this day is the remembrance of 13 Youth Congress workers who died in police firing in 1993 in a rally led by Mamata. It was celebrated by the Congress on a smaller scale until Mamata celebrated on a grander scale after breaking away from the Congress and founding TMC. The rally was meant to strike an emotional chord with her leaders and party workers at the grassroots. 

In the years to come, TMC made the Martyrs’ Day rally a show of strength, with her party leaders and supporters flocking from across the state to listen to the TMC supremo and West Bengal CM for 15 years. It was here that Mamata often made important announcements or a roadmap, often in the run-up to elections in the months or years ahead. 

The arterial roads leading to Victoria House were blocked, and traffic in many parts of the city came to a standstill on July 21 every year. This rally was similar to the Left Front’s massive rallies at Brigade Parade Ground. This time, Mamata hopes to still send out a strong message while evoking an emotional chord with her supporters. The numbers this time, however, will be fewer. The Mamata faction has fewer supporters compared to the rebel faction of the TMC led by Ritabrata Banerjee and the rebel Lok Sabha MPs.

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