Mamata Banerjee protest highlights: 'TMC's condition now pathetic', says Suvendu Adhikari on Mamata's protest in Kolkata

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Mamata Banerjee protest LIVE: West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday claimed that only a small number of TMC leaders attended party chief Mamata Banerjee’s dharna in Kolkata over alleged post-poll violence against party workers, news agency PTI reported.

Speaking to reporters after offering prayers at the Tarakeswar temple in Hooghly district, Adhikari said, “Only three MPs and six MLAs turned up at Mamata Banerjee’s protest dharna. The TMC’s condition is now pathetic. It resembles that of Falta.”

Meanwhile, Banerjee held a day-long sit-in protest in central Kolkata, alleging attacks on her party workers and leaders following the BJP’s victory in the Assembly elections.

Mamata Banerjee protest LIVE: The controversy began after Abhishek Banerjee alleged that he was attacked with bricks, stones and eggs while visiting families affected by post-poll violence in Sonarpur, in South 24 Parganas district, on Sunday.

The TMC leader suffered an eye injury in the incident and claimed the assault was "BJP-sponsored," describing it as an attempt on his life. He also accused the police of failing to provide adequate security during the visit.

According to TMC leader Kunal Ghosh, Banerjee is currently undergoing treatment and several medical tests are yet to be completed.

Mamata Banerjee protest LIVE: Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday alleged that the BJP "rigged" counting in 177 of the 294 seats, which went for polls to win the recently concluded West Bengal elections.

Banerjee asserted that she would not abandon TMC workers in "these difficult times", referring to large-scale arrests of leaders on charges of corruption, intimidation and extortion, and the alleged torture of party workers after the TMC's defeat in the recent assembly polls.

Addressing TMC supporters at a day-long dharna in central Kolkata to protest against alleged post-poll attacks on party workers and leaders following the BJP's victory in recent assembly elections, Banerjee said anti-BJP parties would soon formulate a country-wide opposition programme.

"Very soon, all anti-BJP parties will meet in Delhi. Wait for a few days and we will soon announce our country-wide course of action," the TMC chief said, referring to the scheduled INDIA bloc meeting next week.

-PTI

Mamata Banerjee protest LIVE: The TMC is protesting in Kolkata against the alleged attacks on party leaders, particularly Abhishek Banerjee and Kalyan Banerjee, and workers, as well as Railways' hawker eviction drive, despite the police denying permission for it, party supremo Mamata Banerjee said on Monday.

She alleged that while the common people and small traders were living in fear, and hawkers were being evicted without a proper rehabilitation plan, the ruling BJP was using "money and power" to engineer defections in her party.

The former chief minister, however, asserted that the departure of leaders from the party fold for personal interests would help rebuild the organisation, and the TMC would emerge stronger from the crisis.

Banerjee said that 12 TMC workers had been killed since the Assembly elections and that thousands of party activists had been arrested, while many others had been forced to flee their homes.

She declared the protest would go ahead regardless of official permission. "If we are not allowed to hold a dharna there, I will sit wherever I am stopped. I am ready to be arrested," Banerjee said.

Mamata Banerjee protest LIVE: Sharing photos of people joining the protest, the official handle of TMC said, “no amount of propaganda can manufacture this kind of connection with the people. It is built on years of trust, compassion and unwavering commitment to Bengal.”

Mamata Banerjee protest LIVE: Speaking at the protest, TMC chief Mamata Banerjee said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has left Bengal “in hands of anti-socials, bulldozer-happy politicians, pushing state into darkness: Mamata in Kolkata," news agency PTI reported.

Mamata Banerjee protest LIVE: Addressing protestors in Kolkata, TMC leader Mamata Banerjee said, “Don’t bulldoze us or our democracy and Constitution.”

She added, “Don’t compel us to take a big decision.”

Banerjee also said that anti-BJP parties will meet in Delhi to decide their next nationwide course of action.

Mamata Banerjee protest LIVE: Addressing protestors in Kolkata, TMC leader Mamata Banerjee said that TMC MLAs not being allowed to leave home, they are being asked to leave Trinamool and form new TMC.

She said people who once took her support are now with a “traitor”, referring to chief minister Suvendu Adhikari, news agency PTI reported.

She also said permission was not given to set up a stage or use a microphone, so they brought a hand mic from home.

Mamata Banerjee protest LIVE: Eviction of hawkers without rehabilitation was not TMC govt's policy, we took humane approach, said TMC party leader Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata, news agency PTI reported.

She added that she won't abandon TMC workers in Kolkata.

Mamata Banerjee protest LIVE: Former West Bengal chief minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday held a massive ‘dharna’ (protest) in central Kolkata against alleged post-poll attacks on party workers and leaders, including MP Abhishek Banerjee.

Mamata Banerjee protest LIVE: Addressing protesters in Kolkata, Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claimed that TMC leaders are being threatened in Bengal by police.

Mamata Banerjee protest LIVE: On the attacks on TMC MPs Abhishek Banerjee and Kalyan Banerjee, Congress MP Imran Masood says, "There is no governance in Bengal... Leaders are being attacked with the spirit of revenge and they are not being treated in the hospital... Everyone should stand together regarding what is happening in Bengal. Our party is with them. Rahul Gandhi even called him."

Addressing protesters in Kolkata, TMC leader Kalyan Banerjee said, "In the coming days, we will organise even larger protest demonstrations. I would like to say to the Commissioner of Kolkata Police and the police officers that your salaries are paid from the public exchequer under the Constitution. It is not Suvendu Adhikari who brings money from Shantiniketan to pay your salaries. Therefore, please perform your duties in accordance with the law and the Constitution. Times change, and everyone should remember this while carrying out their responsibilities."

Mamata Banerjee protest LIVE: Addressing protesters in Kolkata, TMC leader Kalyan Banerjee said, "They have killed around 25 to 30 of our party workers. Between 5,000 and 8,000 of our supporters have been driven out of their homes. In addition, nearly 3,000 houses have been demolished. These figures are from about ten days ago. And what is happening now? Wherever our programs or activities are scheduled to take place, the police are stationed outside. Their role appears to be to prevent people from participating. They stand in front of people's homes, and if family members or women step out to attend the programme, they are detained or arrested."

Mamata Banerjee protest LIVE: Staging a protest in Kolkata over the alleged assault on TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and other party leaders, Trinamool MP Kalyan Banerjee said, "Under the leadership of our leader, Mamata Banerjee, we are protesting against the terror and intimidation being carried out by CM Suvendu Adhikari himself, as well as the misuse of the police machinery. We had written a letter on May 29 informing the authorities that we would hold a sit-in protest on June 2 at Rani Rashmoni Road and carry out our demonstration programme. However, until yesterday, the Kolkata Police had not given any response to our letter. At midnight, they informed us that if we wished to hold our sit-in at Y-Channel, they would allow us to do so, provided we obtained all the necessary permissions. The permission came so late, which is why we could not set up any speakers here to convey our message."

Mamata Banerjee protest LIVE: Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee reached the dharna site at Esplanade's Y-channel after the TMC's appeal to hold the protest at the adjacent Rani Rashmoni Road was turned down by the Kolkata Police.

"We were not given permission to set up a stage or use microphones," Kaly Banerjee said, while addressing the crowd using a megaphone.

Mamata Banerjee protest LIVE: Ex-CM Mamata Banerjee leads protest at Kolkata's Rani Rashmoni Avenue over attacks on party leaders, including her nephew Abhishek Banerjee, and other leaders.

Mamata Banerjee protest LIVE: TMC Chairperson Mamata Banerjee reached Kolkata's Rani Rashmoni Avenue to hold a protest over attacks on party leaders, including her nephew Abhishek Banerjee, and other issues.

Mamata Banerjee protest LIVE: West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya on Tuesday ruled out the possibility of inducting leaders from the Trinamool Congress, asserting that the BJP has built its strength from the grassroots and will not accommodate "tainted" individuals.

Speaking to ANI, Bhattacharya said the party had achieved its electoral gains without relying on defectors from rival parties.

"Our doors are closed for TMC. We reached the number 207 without importing anyone. The people voted against the leaders of TMC. Our political strategy this time started from the bottom. How can we include the people who are tainted in our party? Trinamoolisation of BJP will never happen," he said.

Mamata Banerjee protest LIVE: Congress MP Pramod Tiwari on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the BJP over the alleged attacks on Trinamool Congress leaders Abhishek Banerjee and Kalyan Banerjee, claiming the incidents reflected "hooliganism" and raising questions over the role of the police.

Speaking to ANI, Tiwari alleged that the BJP was behind a series of attacks targeting the TMC.

"The TMC has faced three attacks. Mamata-ji's nephew and MP, Abhishek, was attacked. Subsequently, Kalyan Banerjee was attacked. Furthermore, TMC offices in several locations were vandalised. All of this was orchestrated by the BJP," he said.

Questioning the police response during the incidents, Tiwari said, “I would like to ask: when Abhishek Banerjee was being attacked, the police were standing right nearby--why did they not intervene? When Kalyan went to the police station to lodge a complaint, he was attacked; where were the police then?”

Mamata Banerjee protest LIVE: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari is likely to travel to New Delhi on Tuesday ahead of the much-awaited allocation of portfolios among newly inducted ministers, according to a source in the state secretariat.

The visit comes a day after 35 MLAs took oath as ministers in the state government.

The distribution of departments has not yet been announced, sparking political interest over who will be assigned key portfolios in the new cabinet.

During his visit, Adhikari is expected to meet several senior BJP leaders, including BJP president Nitin Nabin and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the source said.

Mamata Banerjee protest LIVE: Senior Trinamool Congress leader Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay on Tuesday dismissed speculation of a large-scale split within the party, asserting that the majority of TMC MLAs would continue to stand with former chief minister Mamata Banerjee and that the party's veteran leadership would retain control of the organisation.

The Ballygunge MLA alleged that efforts were being made by the ruling dispensation to engineer defections and weaken the opposition, but maintained that the TMC remained united despite recent political turbulence.

Mamata Banerjee protest LIVE: West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya on Tuesday ruled out the possibility of inducting TMC leaders into the party, asserting that the BJP's rise in the state had been achieved without relying on political imports.

"Our doors are closed for TMC. We reached the number 207 without importing anyone. The people voted against the leaders of TMC," Bhattacharya said.

Highlighting the party's organisational strategy, he added, "Our political strategy this time started from the bottom."

Bhattacharya also questioned the inclusion of leaders facing allegations, saying, "How can we include the people who are tainted in our party?"

Making the BJP's position clear, he asserted, "Trinamoolisation of BJP will never happen."