Defiant Mukul to go ahead with rathyatra

Kolkata: Defying Trinamul Congress MP and chief minister Mamata Banerjee's nephew Abhishek Banerjee's threat, senior BJP leader Mukul Roy on Saturday expressed his resolve to conduct party's Rathyatra smoothly in the state. Alongwith state BJP leader Joy Prakash Majumdar he met West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi at Raj Bhavan during the day.

Later Mr Roy alleged, "It is again proved that there is no democracy in West Bengal with such remarks by Mr Banerjee. We are preparing to observe a day to safe democracy. We will seek the required permission. And I believe according to the federal structure our Rathyatra will kickstart at the right time and it will be conducted in right direction."

On Mr Banerjee's threat on Friday at a rally to "break" the BJP's chariot wheels he claimed, "We all can see what is happening in West Bengal. It is nothing but politics of violence which proves the absence of democracy. So our initiative is yet to save democracy here. There is a threat to the lives of our district presidents and elected representatives. Young pregnant women have to go to camps to deliver their children."

Mr Roy added, "The state is passing through such a horrible situation. But history says the those who carry out atrocities do not utter the last word...nor the rulers even. Had it been so then history would have no truth. People say the last word. The day for the people to say the last word has got underway. It is only a wait of few more days."

The state BJP has already started the preparation to seek permissions for the Rathyatra from the state government.