Congress Demands Action Against Ex-Home Secretary Over 1993 Firing Incident During Martyrs' Day Rally
On Tuesday, July 21, 2026, the Congress party held its annual Martyrs' Day observance, demanding action against former Home Secretary Manish Gupta for his alleged role in the 1993 police firing incident. Gupta later served as a minister in the Trinamool Congress government from 2011.
The demand comes a day after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari tabled a fact-finding report by an inquiry commission chaired by former Justice Sushanta Kumar Chatterjee. The Chief Minister alleged that former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had gained political benefit from the incident but did not publish the report, received in 2014, to protect Gupta.
Pradeep Bhattacharya, former West Bengal State Congress President, stated, 'I recorded my statement in the commission. The Chatterjee commission had a clear observation that the Home Department under the then-Left government was responsible for the firing incident. But Mamata Banerjee tried to save him because he was made a minister. We must not forget what Mr. Adhikari had been doing then. However, the new government has tabled the report. There should be a proper investigation and action against them.'
During the rally at Shahid Minar ground, the party set up a dummy of Mr. Gupta placed in a witness box. Youth wing workers carried badges demanding action against him. The ground was decorated with archival photos of the incident and subsequent events, including images of Ms. Banerjee—then president of the West Bengal Youth Congress—injured after a clash near the Tea Board office on Brabourne Road during the 'Mahakaran Abhijan' (Writers' Building March), as well as with former Defence Minister George Fernandes.
AICC General Secretary Deepa Das Munshi criticised the Trinamool Congress, saying that the Congress had finally organised the Shahid Diwas rally in its true spirit, whereas the Trinamool Congress only held the rally annually to display political strength.
Congress leaders also claimed that around 14 workers were hospitalised on Tuesday after being assaulted by police. 'BJP is no different. They are destroying democracy. At least 14 of our workers are admitted to different hospitals in Kolkata, Bardhaman, Domjur, Nadia, Bujbuj. Many of the workers also came with minor injuries. The BJP workers beat them up while they were heading towards the rally,' said former Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and five-time Congress MP, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.
The party vowed to strengthen its fight against the BJP and bring change in central power by 2029. Extending support to a student movement in Delhi led by a student political party, Congress maintained that the BJP's real face had been exposed. 'This huge mobilisation of young people across the country threatened the BJP. They didn't even care to reach out to Sonam Wangchuk when he was on hunger strike for over 21 days. But the Congress communicated with Anna Hazare within 96 hours of his strike. We brought laws and regulations as per his demand. We knew that the BJP is backing him,' said Mr. Chowdhury.
Congress also declared that it would hold rallies across districts from August 8 to August 14 over issues including violence against protesting students in New Delhi and the 'betrayal of Shyamaprasad Mookerjee.'
