Mamata to meet PM, says will tell him Centre can't control us with new BSF law
Kolkata: Stating that "the democracy was murdered and its skeleton has come out" in BJP-run states with attacks on Opposition political parties, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said that she would raise the issue of widespread violence in Tripura and enhancement of BSF jurisdiction during her meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"In the BJP-ruled states democracy was murdered and its skeleton has come out. Opposition political parties are not allowed to organise meetings democratically. The election has become a farce in Tripura. I am sorry to say that they are not even paying heed to the Supreme Court's judgement to allow Opposition political parties to hold meetings and rallies ahead of the civic polls. We would like to attract the attention of the apex court as it is its contempt. The Chief Minister (Biplab Deb) himself is defying the SC's verdict," Banerjee said at Kolkata Airport while leaving for a four-day tour to Delhi.
In connection with the Centre's decision of increasing BSF's jurisdiction to 50 km along the international border, Banerjee said: "I am specially going to take up the issue of extension of the BSF's jurisdiction. I will never allow them (the Centre) to control us. Law and order is a state subject. BSF jawans are not my enemy. They are also like other forces with self-respect. But, BJP is misusing them..."
Banerjee also hit out at Union Home minister Amit Shah saying that he had even not shown the courtesy of speaking to the MPs of her party who are agitating in front of his office protesting against the atrocities in Tripura. "He is from BJP, but sitting in the chair of Home Minister. So they wanted to talk to him in regards to Tripura violence. But minimum courtesy of speaking to them has not been shown," Banerjee said before leaving for Delhi. Later, Shah met the Trinamool Congress MPs and assured necessary steps in this connection.
Banerjee further said: "I will meet the Prime Minister on Wednesday. Apart from issues related to the state's development, I would raise the issue related to the enhancement of BSF's jurisdiction and violence in Tripura".
Expressing her anguish over the arrest and attack on her party leaders and workers in Tripura, Banerjee said: "Even Sayoni Ghosh (Trinamool Youth Congress President) was not spared. She is first of all an artiste. Even charges of attempt to murder have been put against her and she was taken to the police station last night. Trinamool Congress National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee and other leaders of the party have gone to Tripura to campaign ahead of the civic polls. But they have been attacked and tortured. People are getting murdered. Miscreants are moving around with firearms in open in front of the police. They have been brutally beaten up. Even they are not provided with proper treatment and we had to bring them to Kolkata and admit them at SSKM Hospital".
Asking whether "such an atrocity could take place without the support of the Tripura government?", Banerjee said: "Our party workers are fighting for the people of Tripura and the people would give their reply (against such atrocities) during the elections". She also asked why members of the National Human Rights Commission are yet to be sent to Tripura.
