Super emergency, says Mamata after TMC team manhandled
Silchar: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday lashed out at the Centre, and the Assam government after a delegation of Trinamool Congress party (TMC) MPs were first manhandled then detained at Silchar Airport by Assam Police on Thursday.
She claimed that members of the TMC delegation, including women, were manhandled at the airport and accused the BJP of imposing "super emergency" in the country.
"I think this is the beginning of their end. They are frustrated. That is why they are acting like a bunch of hooligans. If there is peace everywhere then why did the Assam government not allow our MPs and MLAs to talk to the affected people," she added.
Addressing reporters at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport after her return to Kolkata from Delhi on Thursday afternoon, she said the Central BJP leaders had visited Asansol after the communal violence recently flouting prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC.
"We had allowed them to visit the area, but in Assam, the BJP is trying to stifle the voice of the people who are living under uncertainty and panic. I condemn the way the police had manhandled our women MPs."
She maintained that the incident in Assam had exposed the saffron party.
As the Trinamool team landed around 1.30 pm, the airport had a large contingent of police and district officials who refused to let the lawmakers leave citing an overnight ban on large gatherings.
The argument escalated, with the Trinamool alleging that its members were roughed up. Visuals recorded on mobile phone show Mahua Moitra, an MP, trying to get away from the policewomen, who run after her. Another woman lawmaker is pushed.
"Our members were roughed up. Sukhendu Shekhar Roy has a pacemaker, he was also roughed up," said outraged Trinamool leader Derek O'Brien in Delhi.
Women MPs were also hurt, he said, adding: "What is going on?"
Sukhendu Shekhar Roy, the Rajya Sabha member who led the team, said the police refused to let the group go into town even after he and his colleagues cancelled a public meeting and assured the police that they would only meet people. The legislators and parliamentarians protested at the arrival lounge for hours before they were detained.
The TMC delegation including six MPs was kept in the VIP lounge of Kumbhigram airport here in Cachar district under Barak Valley region, the officials said.
The issue was raised in Lok Sabha. Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day (on this issue), the statement said.
The Trinamool Congress is planning to move a privilege motion in Lok Sabha on Friday against the detention of its members of parliament in Silchar in Assam on Friday.
