KOLKATA/NEW DELHI: Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Monday questioned the BJP's idea of "democracy" after Delhi cops broke up his press conference at Rajghat and gave his party's protesters five minutes to disperse after a two-hour dharna.
The consequences "would not be good" if the cops similarly tried to disperse the planned protest at Jantar Mantar on Tuesday, he warned.
Banerjee accused the Delhi cops of being "untamed" and resorting to "torture", saying even women were "assaulted". "What democracy is this, when people are not even allowed to protest? Whatever they did to us (the leaders) is okay, but had people been targeted, we would have replied to BJP in a language they understand," he told reporters.
Banerjee, accompanied by other TMC MPs and a state minister, had been on a silent sit-in at Rajghat, demanding the release of funds to Bengal, including those for MGNREGS. The protesters sported black badges and held placards with their dem-ands.
The police, through loudhailers, gave protesters "five minutes" to disperse while TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee was addressing reporters.
Banerjee was forced to leave the venue. Bengal fire minister Sujit Bose was seen walking out of the premises without his shoes. MPs Santanu Sen and Satabdi Roy lost their cellphones in the melee. "Gandhiji is no one's personal property. We were disturbed by Delhi Police all through our peaceful protest, where not a single political slogan was raised. Our women protesters were manhandled by the cops," he said.
"The way women, including reporters, were assaulted today at Rajghat was shameful," Banerjee later said. "There was a conspiracy to spread unrest at a place which is a symbol of peace and non-violence. The protest here is not based on Trinamool's demands; it is a question of people's rights."
Banerjee said he "welcomed" Union minister Giriraj Singh's call for a CBI probe, if it meant Bengal's "common people" got their due. "An investigation can happen but it must be a court-monitored probe. If there is a CBI inquiry into MGNREGS, Giriraj Singh must be the first person to be arrested. Three children in Bengal died because of their arrogance and highhandedness," Banerjee said.
Banerjee announced that Tuesday's meeting at Jantar Mantar would start at 1pm, following which a delegation of Trinamool leaders would reach Krishi Bhavan to meet minister Singh. "If the government still refuses to clear Bengal's dues, we will announce our next programme immediately," he said.
Banerjee brought up Uttar Pradesh, countering the BJP's claim that 15% of job cards in Bengal were fake. "In Yogi Adityanath-ruled Uttar Pradesh, 24% of job cards were found to be fake. Will they (BJP) speak on it? BJP held a press conference today and claimed there were discrepancies in implementation of the scheme in four districts. Even if, for the sake of argument, I accept there are discrepancies in four districts, what is BJP's explanation behind depriving the other 17 districts?"
