TMC to BJP: For yatra, 1st go to people's court

Kolkata: Throwing a challenge to the BJP, Trinamul Congress secretary general Partha Chatterjee on Sunday asked the saffron party to first seek the people’s permission for the rath yatra, before approaching the Supreme Court to get permission for the party’s grand event in West Bengal. He, however, asserted that the law and order has never been a problem in the state.

When told that BJP is planning to move the apex court, Mr Chatterjee said at the Trinamul Bhavan, “Let them go wherever they want. Does it matter anyway? They are not bothered of the state or its people or its interest or even the Centre’s anti-people policies. They do not stand by the people of the state in the movement against the Centre’s anti-people policies. They are free to go wherever they wish.”

He further added, “Let them come to the people’s court first. People’s court is the best court. But they do not want to go there because they know their strength now. They are doing this show to remain alive in the news.” On the BJP’s frequent complaint of deterioration of law and order in the state, Mr Chatterjee who is also state education minister referred to incidents of daylight killings in the BJP ruled states recently.

He claimed, “Law and order is not a problem in West Bengal. Here the head of the police is not shot dead. They are now visiting the victim’s family members to lure them with assurances. Here a man is not burnt alive. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee has been very cautious and careful in maintaining peace and harmony while taking her development works ahead. How can it be disrupted is their aim.”

Mr Chatterjee also called upon the media to ‘boycott’ the BJP. On state Congress president Somen Mitra’s assertion for no alliance with the Trinamul he said, “What is of use of his views to us? If we can march ahead then who will stop us? We will do according to our mission with our chief minister to advance development works in West Bengal.”

Referring to the Congress, he alleged, “They have been lost in the jungle. They do not have any stand about where to stay or move to. They are the signboard of BJP.” On the seat sharing deal between the BJP, Lok Janshakti Party and Janata Dal (United) in Bihar for the Lok Sabha Elections the Trinamul secretary general added, “We are not bothered about Bihar. We are focussed about Bengal.”