UNION home minister, Amit Shah faced strong protest in his visit to Kolkata on  March 1. Thousands of protestors came out in the street to shout him “Go back Amit Shah”, holding him responsible for planned violence in Delhi. As Shah landed in airport, protests began then and there. Hundreds rallied outside the gates of airport with black flags, black balloons and poster. CPI(M) and Left mass organisations took the lead in the demonstration. All the way to city, Shah had to witness protests in street corners. In Kolkata itself, rallies, demonstrations, gatherings were held in numerous areas. In some places road blockade was held. SFI- DYFI- AIDWA organised rally in Park Circus area. In Esplanade, near Sahid Minar Maidan where Shah addressed a BJP rally, students and youths organised strong protest. Slogans like “ Shah with bloodied hand, Go Back” ranted the air. In Esplanade itself, BJP supporters raised slogan, “Goli Maro…” which was aptly answered by Left youths with anti-Shah slogans.

Protest rallies were organised in districts too.

On March 2, Left parties, allies and Congress took out a huge procession in Kolkata, protesting against Delhi violence and expressing solidarity with victims in Delhi. The rally started from Subodh Mallick Square and ended at Mahajati Sadan. CPI(M) leaders like Biman Basu, Surjya Kanta Mishra participated in the rally.

Interestingly, Mamata Banerjee’s administration and police was extra careful about Amit Shah’s visit. Police even brought down anti-NRC banners of TMC on his route. There was no protest from TMC and leaders of the party were silent on the whole day. West Bengal chief minister also restrained herself from raising CAA-NRC when she met Amit Shah in Bhubaneswar in Eastern Zonal Council meeting though she attended a lunch with him. This has produced slogans like “ People are aware/ Mamata is Lackey of Modi-Shah”.