KOLKATA 26 NOV: On a day when CPI(M) called for a nationwide strike, against the new farm and labour laws with partial public services being affected, chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday claimed that although they do not support the strike, they support the issues of the strike.
Addressing the media at Nabanna, Banerjee, said, “Our party does not believe in the strike culture. But, we do support the issue raised by CPI(M). Though we cannot join their strike, we supported the cause of the strike.”
However, according to the CPI(M) leaders, TMC is only pretending to be supporting their cause. Some senior CPI(M) leaders even feel TMC is merely putting up a show of support by only announcing their support on the issue. These leaders also believe that TMC leaders could only make false statements, which are baseless.
Md Selim, a CPI(M) leader, said, “Both TMC and BJP are on different sides of the same coin. Banerjee is now making a statement which is baseless. Banerjee is responsible for giving entry to BJP. Banerjee has made a liaison with Amit Shah to get rid of her nephew Abhishek Banerjee who has been involved in various scams.”
Left calls for a strike
The protestors and the police did clash at various locations during this strike. Such clashes were reported from Barasat in North 24 Parganas, Garia, Dhakuria, Joynagar, Lake Town, Dum Dum, Subhasgram. Even, train services were affected in Dakshin Barasat, Baharu, Dhakuria, Joynagar, Champahati, Betberia Ghola stations and Ichapur, Palta, New Barrackpore, Barrackpore and Dumdum Cantonment stations.
Also, the Left party members blocked the road at Konnagar, Hooghly. They also organised protest movements in Bankura district. In addition, the protesters were also seen trying to block the railway track in Durgapur.
Didi up in ante against BJP: Over Majerhat bridge
Meanwhile, a clash also broke out between BJP and TMC leaders at Taratala in Behala. After, BJP supporters demanded the reason behind the delay in opening the Majerhat bridge. Then, the police rushed to the spot. And detained a few BJP leaders.
Kailash Vijaywargiya was seen demonstrating with other BJP leaders at Taratala More in Behala. Further, he claimed that police even tried to arrest him while he was only trying to control the situation.
According to the police, they neither detained nor arrested him.
However, Banerjee claimed that she received information about the same from the police. The Bengal CM talked about how she was informed that Vijaywargiya was being dramatic at the spot. According to the information, Vijaywargiya was spreading rumours that the police was arresting him so such photographs could be clicked.
“They (BJP) are only concerned with spreading fake news and being dramatic. Railways have not given permission yet. So, the construction work cannot begin. The PWD work is complete. Hopefully, by the first week of December, the bridge will be operational. I have written nine letters to the railways urging them to speed up the work of the Majerhat bridge. But, I am still awaiting a response on the same. Now with the Assembly election coming forward, they (BJP) leaders have decided to make this an issue. We were supposed to operationalise the Majerhat bridge nine months ago. But, railways have caused the delay,” added Mamata.
Banerjee even reiterated her sentiments towards the leaders from other states being appointed as state heads by the saffron party.
Banerjee added “There is no place for outsiders in Bengal. Those who come to Bengal just before elections to only start communal trouble are nothing but outsiders.”
Shamik Bhattacharya, BJP leader, said, “We have only raised the plight of the people of Behala. After the Majerhat bridge collapsed, it has become a pain for the common people to travel to Behala. And that is why we have raised the issue. As an Opposition party, we have the right to raise such issues. But the way police and TMC tried to throttle our democratic movement, we feel that democracy has been harped in Bengal. And Opposition voice is being curbed.”