Archive · 19 Aug 2026
CJP Alleges BJP Pressure Cancelled Kolkata Meeting Bookings
The Cockroach Janta Party said several places in Kolkata would not let it hold meetings.
It said one hall cancelled its booking after venue owners allegedly faced pressure from BJP leaders.
The group also said about six other halls refused to host it.
The BJP denied the allegations and called them baseless.
The CJP held a press conference outside the Calcutta Press Club instead of indoors.
The group is also demanding action over an alleged attack involving a man identified in the reports as Sk Md Mafik or Sheikh Abdul.
It wants all alleged attackers arrested and a school built in the family’s area in his memory.
Police said Mafik had a small injury needing one stitch and later went to hospital after severe blood-pressure fluctuations.
The Cockroach Janta Party said Bharat Sabha Hall cancelled its Kolkata meet-up after alleged threats from BJP leaders.
The CJP said around six other halls also refused bookings, citing alleged pressure from the state administration.
The organisation held its press conference outside the Calcutta Press Club after citing waterlogging, electricity, or technical problems.
The BJP called the allegations baseless and fabricated, while the CJP said people linked to the BJP were involved in an alleged attack.
West Bengal Police said Sk Md Mafik suffered an injury requiring one stitch and later died after severe blood-pressure fluctuations.
- Who
- The Cockroach Janta Party, the Bharatiya Janata Party, West Bengal Police, and people connected with the alleged attack involving Sk Md Mafik, also referred to in one report as Sheikh Abdul.
- What
- The CJP alleged that Kolkata venues cancelled or refused meeting bookings because of BJP or state-government pressure, while also demanding action in the alleged attack case.
- When
- The venue allegations and press conference took place on Tuesday; police said the incident involving Mafik occurred on August 13 and that he went to hospital on August 15.
- Where
- The meeting venues were in Kolkata, including Bharat Sabha Hall in north Kolkata; the press conference took place outside the Calcutta Press Club. The separate attack was reported in Bankura and Mafik was admitted to Burdwan Medical College.
- Why
- The CJP said it wanted to hold a political meeting, continue its government-school campaign, and secure arrests and other measures for the family involved in the attack case.
CJP’s allegations and demands
BJP and police responses
Why venues refused bookings
CJP’s allegations and demands
The CJP said Bharat Sabha Hall cancelled its meeting after venue owners allegedly received threats from BJP leaders, and said around six other halls refused because of pressure from the state administration or local BJP representatives.
BJP and police responses
The BJP denied the charges as baseless and fabricated. The venue allegations could not be independently verified; the Calcutta Press Club cited waterlogging, electricity unavailability, or a technical problem for the lack of an indoor venue.
Political links to the alleged attack
CJP’s allegations and demands
The CJP alleged that people involved in the attack were affiliated with the BJP and said it had eyewitness accounts, names, photographs, and FIRs that could establish their political affiliation. It demanded arrests of all alleged attackers and said only four of 15–20 alleged participants had been arrested.
BJP and police responses
The BJP denied organisational involvement in the incident. The reports do not provide independent evidence confirming the CJP’s allegation.
Cause and severity of death
CJP’s allegations and demands
The CJP described the incident as an assault and accused the government of failing to act against everyone involved. It linked its campaign to demands for protection for the family and a school built in the deceased person’s memory.
BJP and police responses
West Bengal Police rejected claims that Mafik died after a brutal physical assault, saying he sustained a minor injury requiring one stitch and later went to hospital after severe blood-pressure fluctuations.
- Organisation making the allegations
- Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), also called the Cockroach Janata Party in one report.
- Cancelled venue
- Bharat Sabha Hall in north Kolkata, according to the CJP.
- Other alleged refusals
- The CJP said around six other halls refused to host its event; another account said it first approached three or four venues and received similar refusals.
- CJP’s evidence
- The organisation said it had no direct communication showing that BJP leaders threatened venues and did not provide independent documentary evidence during the interaction.
- BJP response
- A West Bengal BJP leader called the allegations baseless and fabricated and said the party believed in a democratic system.
- Police account
- West Bengal Police said Mafik sustained a minor injury requiring one stitch during the August 13 incident and later self-admitted to Burdwan Medical College after severe blood-pressure fluctuations.
- CJP demands
- The CJP sought security for the family, arrest of all alleged attackers, and a school built in the deceased person’s father’s name; it also said it planned an online fund.
