Trinamool leaders arrested for gathering in support of young protestors in Delhi, granted bail

Several Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders were arrested in Kolkata on Saturday (July 25, 2026) at a gathering organised in support of young protestors in Delhi, after the Calcutta High Court denied them permission to hold a rally for it.

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MLA Kunal Ghosh, a loyalist of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, along with senior Trinamool leader and Kolkata Municipal Corporation councillor Baiswanor Chatterjee and others, assembled at Kolkata’s CIT Road to stand in solidarity with the young protesters.

The court, however, declined permission, citing the prevailing law and order situation, following which Trinamool leaders were arrested. Upon reaching the venue, Ms. Banerjee raised slogans against their arrest.

Thereafter, senior Trinamool leaders, including MPs Derek O’ Brien and Dola Sen, and MLA Biman Banerjee gathered outside the Police Headquarters in Lalbazar here, but were not allowed inside.

Mr. Ghosh and others were subsequently granted bail and released from the Lalbazar police lock-up.

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“The rally had dispersed after the High Court refused to grant permission. But nobody can stop All India Trinamool Congress and the soldiers of Mamata Banerjee with such harassment,” Mr. Ghosh said after his release.

Permission to hold the rally was cancelled at the 11th hour even though they had acquired it beforehand, Ms. Banerjee claimed. She and her party leaders had been manhandled, she alleged.

“Their (the police’s) children are also students, their children are also supporting the movement, and you are baton-charging people on the instructions of the government?” Ms. Banerjee said. Why were Trinamool party leaders arrested even though their rally had been cancelled after permission was declined, and the party’s supporters had remained in one place, she said. They had only joined the protest to show their solidarity for the students’ protest and had instead been subjected to atrocities by the police, she added.

The Trinamool chairperson was seen riding a motorcycle from the protest venue to her residence. While there were reports that the former CM would visit Lalbazar, her route was subsequently changed.

This comes a day after Kolkata saw a sea of protestors take over the city on Friday (July 24, 2026) in solidarity with the protests in Delhi. Friday’s rally ended in violence between the police and the protestors, and led to at least six cases being filed against protestors.

The Trinamool supremo congratulated the young protestors of the country on the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. While referring to the development as a victory, she also said it was “only an eyewash”.

“I will go to Delhi and meet the students… My solidarity is with all the loveable youth and students,” Ms. Banerjee said. She condemned the police action against protestors and promised that no matter what action was taken by the police, she would continue to raise her voice for the youth and the nation.