TMC observes 'black day'; partymen attacked by BJP

Kolkata: The Trinamool Congress observed 'black day' in districts and blocks across the state on Saturday to protest against the "detention and manhandling" of its leaders in Assam's Silchar airport, where they had gone to assess the situation after the publication of the final draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC). The protest will continue on Sunday too. Carrying placards and sporting black masks and badges, TMC activists shouted slogans against the BJP governments at the Centre and Assam and the final draft of the NRC.

Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee had alleged that the members of the delegation, including women, were manhandled at the airport and accused the BJP of imposing a "super emergency" in the country. TMC Secretary-General Partha Chatterjee had said, "What happened to our party delegation is not only shameful but also undemocratic. Our slogan will be 'we don't need this monstrous government any more'."

At Englishbazar, Malda, BJP workers attacked Trinamool Congress supporters who were participating in a rally. The BJP workers demanded that the NRC should start in Bengal, too, and that those whose names would be in the list should be deported to Bangladesh. A large police contingent went to the spot and brought the situation under control. Krishnendu Narayan Chowdhury said that the BJP was trying to create chaos in different parts in the district. "Trinamool Congress supporters had taken part in a rally and the BJP workers attacked them without any provocation."

In Kolkata, an effigy of PM Narendra Modi was burnt by TMC supporters at a rally led by minister Subrata Mukherjee. "Those whose names have been dropped from NRC are panicking and really do not know what to do. The BJP is ruining the country with its divisive politics," said Mukherjee.