Nabanna protest: Student leader Sayan Lahiri demands Mamata Banerjee’s resignation

Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj Leader Sayan Lahiri, who was arrested on August 27 for playing a key role in carrying out the 'Nabanna Abhijan rallyreiterated its demand on Saturday and called for the resignation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee “on moral grounds”.

Lahiri was released on bail after the Calcutta High Court said the student leader appeared to be a “minor figure” with no significant position of power or influence in demanding justice for the rape and murder of a junior doctor at a Calcutta hospital earlier this month.

“We still believe that Mamata Banerjee should resign on moral grounds. We will continue our fight for justice for our sister until it is achieved,” Lahiri told India Today TV after coming out of jail earlier in the day.

The student leader also claimed that the Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj, an unregistered student group, did not incite any violence during the march to the West Bengal Secretariat on August 27 to protest against the rape and murder of a doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

“We did not incite violence. What was the police there for if they could not stop the violence? We did not break any laws,” he asked.

Lahiri also clarified his stance on political affiliations amid speculations, stressing that he has no intention of joining any political party. “I am not joining any political party. Even the BJP has not funded our programme. We have asked everyone to support us. The Left and the Congress have not done so, but unofficially even my TMC friends have supported us,” he said.

The student leader also refuted rumours that the BJP had funded the rally, saying, “The BJP did not fund our programme. We requested everyone to support us. The Left and the Congress did not do that and even my TMC friends supported us unofficially.”

Following a petition filed by Lahiri's mother Anjali seeking quashing of the case against him and grant of bail, the Calcutta High Court ordered his release from police custody by 2 pm on Saturday.

Lehri also thanked Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Suvendu Adhikari and said that the BJP leader stood by him and his family during the time of crisis.