Stay humble, Mamata to all

“The biggest work of a political worker is to attain credibility of masses. If you don’t have credibility as an individual you don’t have the right to be in politics,” she told her party’s Martyrs’ Day rally here.

“For me the true party worker is that person who carries the party flag and says Trinamool Congress Zindabad. People keep a close watch on what a party worker does in their respective booth areas,” she said. Banerjee said the whole party is blamed for the wrong deeds of few people and cautioned a section of party workers to stay away from infighting.

“There may be 400 blocks and out of that party workers of two blocks may be tainted. But for these two blocks the entire 398 blocks can’t be blamed. I would request you all to lead a simple life. If you try to lead an extraordinary life, you tend to fall in the trap of greed and corruption. You all should stay away from it,” she said.

“You should stay away from infighting and quarrelling. Instead of serving your own interests you should serve the interests of the party. All of you have to follow the guidelines of the party. I will not allow any kind of work which goes against the people,” she said. Banerjee’s comment comes in the backdrop of the arrest of a TMC councillor of Salt Lake earlier this month on charges of extortion and for being involved in the business of syndicate.

Trinamool Congress secretary general Partha Chatterjee told the rally “Those who deviate from party line should stay away.” 

Banerjee said that the 25th anniversary of Martyrs’ Day in 2017 would be commemorated with year-long programmes. She said the membership drive of the party would continue and a poor person could become a member by paying Rs 1. “We will take donation from workers to run the party.”

Recalling the July 21 incident in 1993 where 13 youth Congress workers were killed in police firing , she said they died to establish democracy.

“The Martyrs laid the foundation of the party and on this day we not only pay our homage to them, but also offer our heartfelt respect and gratitude to their family members. They did not want anything from the party and had protested against the wrongs that were happening in West Bengal.”

She said the party would continue to work for the poor people. Referring to persons now working in USA and who were apprehensive of losing jobs, she said the state government would open a cell and would ensure jobs for them.

She said the party would celebrate important days like the Republic Day, Independence Day, Birthdays of Swami Vivekananda, Rabindranath and Kazi Nazrul. She urged the party workers to celebrate Raskha bandhan, Eid, Rathayatra, Durga Puja and Muharram. 

“Party leaders and workers should go to the people and take part in these festivals to foster communal peace and harmony. Prepare a calendar and follow it. Remember, our primary concern is giving relief to the people and we will have to work with administration to ensure a better life for them.” Banerjee maintained that “religion should be universal, approach to life should be humanitarian and culture should be terror free.” She urged  students to respect teachers, their parents and women. 

Party leaders Subrata Bakshi, Mukul Roy, Partha Chatterjee, Sudip Bandopadhyay, Firhad Hakim, Abhishek Banerjee, Subhendu Adhikari, Bacchu Hansda and Asima Patra spoke at the meeting.