'Want to see Mamata Banerjee as the next Prime Minister'

Kolkata: People of Jangalmahal including that of West Midnapore this time attended the Martyrs' Day rally with only one wish on their minds — to see Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee as the next Prime Minister of India.

This gives a clear message that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent meeting on July 16 at Midnapore College Ground has had no impact on the people.

Within four days after the Prime Minister's rally, lakhs of people from the Jangalmahal came to Kolkata to be a part of the Martyrs' Day rally on Saturday at Esplanade.

"I want her to be the next Prime Minister of our country to ensure an overall development of India as similar to that of Bengal," said Tapas Singh, who came from Narayangarh in West Midnapore.

Thousands of people from West Midnapore started pouring into the city four-five days ahead of the rally on Saturday and they recollected how the Mamata Banerjee government had restored peace in their region.

They also recollected the development work that has been carried out by her government, which was once a Maoist dominated area.

A septuagenarian, Sheikh Tartun, said: "It had never happened that I didn't attend the Martyrs' Day rally since 1998. But this time I came here with only one wish and that is to see Mamata Banerjee as our next Prime Minister."

Tartun is a resident of Hudmura Gram Panchayat in Purulia II block and he came to attend the rally with several others from his village. He said that Hutmura is one of the Gram Panchayats that came under the TMC before the party came to power in the state in 2011.

"The Mamata Banerjee government has carried out massive development works in the past seven years and now we want her to be in Delhi," said Tartun.

He added: "I am returning home with so much joy and happiness as Mamata Banerjee has given a clarion call to oust the BJP and a rally for the same will be held at Brigade Parade Ground on January 19 in 2019."

The people of Jangalmahal have not paid any heed to the rumours that failed to wipe off the innumerable development works that the people of the region have witnessed.

Besides restoration of peace, the state government has given a new lease of life to the places by creating the necessary infrastructure for the benefit of the common man.