Mamata Alleges Oppn Bid To Thwart TMC Martyrs' Day Rally Tomorrow: ‘Become Jittery When People...’
Kolkata, Jul 20 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday alleged the opposition parties are trying to thwart the July 21 Martyrs’ Day of the Trinamool Congress, describing it as the battle for democracy against authoritarianism.
Banerjee, who inspected arrangements at the venue of the meeting at Esplanade in the heart of the city, however, did not name any opposition party.
"When someone announces a rally towards state secretariat Nabanna, do we have any issue? When you (opposition) hold rallies without police permission, we don't stand in your way,” the TMC supremo told reporters at the venue.
The TMC believes in democratic rights of everyone to take out rallies to voice their protests, she said adding that the July 21 programme is a battle for democracy against authoritarianism.
“But you become jittery when people turn out in TMC's rally on July 21 in large numbers to save the rights of Maa Mati Manush (mother, land and people)," said Banerjee.
The chief minister’s statement came two days after the Calcutta High Court put some restrictions on when processions will be allowed in the city to avoid traffic congestion and help commuters reach their workplaces smoothly. The court passed the order after hearing a petition seeking that there is no disruption of traffic movement on July 21.
Banerjee said, "You called parallel rallies. Well, go ahead, but people are with us." She was alluding to the rallies of the BJP called on the same day.
The TMC chief also accused the CPI(M)-led Left Front of "killing democracy", alleging that many people were shot dead in the fight to save democracy during its 34 years of reign.
On July 21, the TMC commemorates the sacrifices of hundreds of our party workers in order to resist CPI(M)’s attempt to kill democracy, Banerjee said.
“The CPI(M) made the police fire on our supporters on this day at this place 33 years ago. It is this place where the blood-soaked bodies were lying. At least 200 were injured, while 13 were killed. We remember them on this day as democracy day, as martyrs’ day," she said.
The Martyrs’ Day rally is held every year by the Mamata Banerjee-led party in commemoration of a 1993 police firing at protestors of the Congress, of which she was then the youth wing leader. Lakhs of people reach Kolkata to attend the rally.
“The CPI(M) did not allow people to vote (when it was in power). Now, under the double-engine government, the same thing happens in BJP-ruled states,” Banerjee claimed.
The CM also alleged that bona fide residents of West Bengal are being detained in BJP-ruled states as Bangladeshis.
She said that already over one lakh people TMC supporters have come to Kolkata for the rally, and urged people to assemble at the venue on Monday peacefully.
Banerjee pointed to the flood-like situation in several parts of the state and said people have come braving that and the rains.
Without naming any central agency, she said over one lakh cusecs of water has been released, flooding several districts in the southern part of West Bengal, and her government is coping with the situation on war footing.
“In the next two to three years, we will implement a project to prevent recurring floods in places like Ghatal as the Centre is not extending help,” she said.
TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee inspected the facilities at places where supporters are lodged. PTI SUS NN
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