Bharatiya Janata Party leaders in West Bengal today gloated over the fact that Delhi Police had refused to grant permission to the Trinamool Congress to hold its protest rally at the capital’s Ramlila Maidan.
“Serves them right. The Trinamool Congress is getting a taste of its own medicine. Every time I want to hold a rally, Mamata Banerjee’s police say no and cite imaginary law and order problems and invoke S-144. I have had to go to court more than 50 times to ensure that I can hold rallies in West Bengal,” said Suvendu Adhikari, the leader of the Opposition.
The Trinamool leadership said Delhi Police had refused them permission to hold a rally at Ramlila Maidan on Gandhi Jayanti (October 2). The rally was to protest the Centre “depriving” the State of funds under several schemes including MGNREGA.
The demonstration had been announced by CM and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee and party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee from the Martyrs’ Day dais on July 21.
“We had announced the dharna programme long back. We had sent an application to hold a camp at Ramlila Maidan between September 30 and October 4 and the main programme was scheduled on October 2 where our leaders Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee were to participate, demanding dues for Bengal. But we have been deprived,” said TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh at a press conference in Trinamool Bhavan.
“The Delhi Police step is a result of the Central BJP’s panic,” Ghosh said: “They are trying to disrupt our dharna from the very beginning. We condemn their undemocratic attitude and our leaders will decide upon the next step.”
TMC MP Santanu Sen said not allowing the rally would not stifle the TMC’s voice. “They (BJP) can snatch Ramlila Maidan from us but they cannot snatch our right to protest.”