Condemning the alleged attack on journalists at Esplanade by a section of the protesters who participated in the Left rally from Sealdah to Dorina Crossing, Bengal Minister of State for Information and Cultural Affairs Purnima Chakraborty labelled the attackers as “anti-nationals,” and underlined that the country’s law and the Constitution will never forgive such acts.
“Media is the fourth pillar of democracy and no civilized nation can accept attack on it. I condemn an attack on journalists,” Chakraborty told The Statesman.
The Bengal minister pointed out that journalists are only putting out what they are reporting from the ground and there is nothing wrong in that.
“Journalists are only presenting the truth and have not done anything wrong. What is wrong in that? Those who are anti-nationals and against India have always opposed what the Indian media is presenting,” Chakraborty said.
West Bengal: Minister of State for Information and Cultural Affairs Purnima Chakraborty said, "Anti-national forces will be answered by the country's laws and the people of the country."@Purnimachakbjp | @BJP4Bengal |#TirangaRally #BJP #TheStatesman pic.twitter.com/6UKhQutYh0
— The Statesman (@TheStatesmanLtd) July 27, 2026
Drawing a sharp line between protesters and those raising anti-national slogans on Friday’s rally, the MoS said “We have acknowledged the demands made by the protesting students. But we won’t accept the anti-national slogans raised by some of the protesters.”
“The country’s law and the Constitution won’t forgive this. The miscreants are being identified. The country’s law and its people will give them a befitting reply in time,” she further mentioned.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took out a Tiranga Yatra from Sealdah to Dorina Crossing in central Kolkata on Monday. The rally witnessed party workers carrying the national flag and raising slogans against the alleged cries made during Friday’s demonstration, which later turned violent.
On Monday, journalists from various media organisations took out a protest march from the Kolkata Press Club to Dorina Crossing, demanding action against those responsible for the alleged attacks on media personnel and stronger measures to ensure the safety of journalists while performing their duties.