The embattled Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee, who is facing revolt from within her party, said she will go ahead with a sit-in protest at Rashmoni Avenue on Tuesday despite not receiving
police permission, and dared authorities to arrest her.
Her remarks came after the police denied TMC permission for a sit-in protest in Kolkata against alleged attacks on party workers and leaders after the elections. In a video on her Facebook handle, Mamata accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of using “money and power” to engineer defections in her party.
“Why are people frightened? Why are people anxious? The entire atmosphere has changed. Kolkata and Bengal have been handed over to lumpens,” she alleged.
‘Arrest Me If You Want’
The former Chief Minister said that leaders leaving the party for personal interests would help rebuild the organisation, and that the TMC would emerge stronger from the crisis. She also asserted that she would hold the sit-in protest at Esplanade despite not having police permission.
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“If we are not allowed to hold a dharna there, I will sit wherever I am stopped. I am ready to be arrested,” she said. “The police are trying to break up a political party. If you don’t let me protest democratically here, I will go to Delhi. We have an INDIA bloc meeting as well.”
Banerjee said at least 12 TMC workers had been killed since the Assembly elections and that thousands of party activists had been arrested, while many others had been forced to flee their homes. She also alleged that democratic protests were being obstructed.
She accused the BJP of giving money to lure some TMC leaders in an effort to split the party, while others were being threatened with ED and CBI probes.
Mamata Banerjee’s Message To Defectors
Her remarks came as the internal turmoil in the TMC deepened following the expulsion of two MLAs for alleged anti-party activities and reports of more leaders being in touch with the BJP. There are allegations of efforts to form an “Asli Trinamool“, and growing speculation about legislators and MPs exploring alternative political options.
The tension escalated after the TMC expelled MLAs Sandipan Saha and Ritabrata Banerjee, accusing them of “anti-party activities”. The expulsions came amid a controversy over signatures related to legislative appointments and have been widely interpreted as the party leadership cracking down on dissent.
Mamata said several leaders now leaving the TMC had enjoyed power and positions for years but were changing sides to protect personal interests. Taking a swipe at Ritabrata Banerjee, she said the TMC had made a mistake by accommodating him after he was expelled by the CPI(M) in 2017.
“Our mistake was giving him a ticket after he came and fell at my feet seeking an opportunity. We trusted him and even denied tickets to others to accommodate him. Today he has betrayed the party and the people who elected him,” she said.
She also accused TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, who has resigned from all organisational posts of the Trinamool Congress, of attempting to ally with the BJP.
