Trinamool to hit streets today to protest against ‘attack’ on Mamata Banerjee

The Trinamool Congress plans statewide protest rallies after former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee faced protests and alleged stone and shoe attacks during a visit to Bijpur. The party will organise block-level demonstrations, while political leaders traded accusations over the incident

Kolkata: Following the attack on former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Bijpur in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district, the minority faction of the Trinamool Congress has decided to hold protest rallies across the state on Monday.

A party insider said that a protest march will be held in all the blocks of the state. Party MLAs who have not joined the rebel camp will mark their protest in the state Assembly.

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According to the party insider, Trinamool Congress is trying to intensify its movement in the state, focusing on Sunday’s incident. After the Assembly results were announced, party supremo Mamata Banerjee sat on a dharna on Y channel on June 2 to protest against multiple issues in the state, including post-poll violence, and the eviction of hawkers. However, so far, the entire programme of the Mamata Banerjee-led faction of the Trinamool Congress has been Kolkata-centric.

According to the insider, the party is now trying to reach out to its workers in the districts and inspire activists and supporters to take part in its fresh movements. The district leaders have been asked to organise processions in every block after 2 p.m. on Monday to protest against the attack.

The three-time former Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, fell victim to spontaneous public outrage on Sunday afternoon after she went to Bijpur to meet the family of a Trinamool Congress worker who allegedly died in police custody.

Police had arrested Birju Keot, the husband of Jenny Sharma Keot — a Trinamool councillor who had resigned from the Kanchrapara Municipality in North 24 Parganas — over various allegations, including extortion. He died mysteriously in the lock-up on Saturday (August 8). His family alleged that Birju was beaten to death.

On Sunday afternoon, the former Chief Minister, accompanied by two party MPs, went to visit Birju’s family but faced protests on the way. It is alleged that shoes and mud were hurled at her vehicle.

Mamata Banerjee claimed that BJP-backed miscreants were responsible for the act. Bricks and stones were also thrown at the car. She also claimed that had the windows been open, she could have suffered a head injury or even lost her life.

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday evening said that no BJP members were involved in the protests. Speaking about the incident, the Chief Minister also offered a piece of advice to the former Chief Minister. He said that Mamata Banerjee should wear a headset when stepping out in public. That way, she wouldn’t have to hear chants of “thief”.