BJP defiant as TMC govt hardens stand on bandh

Kolkata: Hardening its stand against the BJP-sponsored 12-hour bandh in the state on September 26, the ruling Trinamul Congress government on Monday said all steps would be taken to maintain normal life on that day while accusing the saffron party of trying to foment trouble in the state.

The BJP, which has called the band to protest the killing of two students in a clash with the police in North Dinajpur district on Thursday, however, claimed that the shutdown would be a complete success as the people of Islampur and the entire state is fed up with the “misrule of the TMC”.

Parliamentary affairs minister Partha Chatterjee informed that steps would be taken by the government if normal life is hampered. Convening a meeting of the group of ministers at the state Secretariat Nabanna, he said, “Ensuring security is the job of the government. Action will be taken quickly if trouble erupts. People can go to work safely.”

Meanwhile, two public interest litigations (PILs) were filed at the Calcutta high court on Monday> The petitioners urged that court that the bandh called by the BJP be declared “illegal”. One of the PILs belonged to Trinamul Congress MP Idris Ali, who is also a lawyer.

The matter will come up for hearing on September 25, a day before the bandh.

In his petition, Mr Ali demanded the bandh be declared “illegal”. “The BJP and RSS have called the bandh illegally. That is why I have moved the high court,” he said.

“I also appealed for the withdrawal of the bandh also. If there is a bandh defying the high court’s ruling, the BJP’s registration should be cancelled,” he added.

Another lawyer Ramapada Sarkar also filed a similar petition which is likely to come up for hearing on Tuesday.

State transport minister Subhendu Adhikary said, “The government transportation services will be available on September 26 like other days.”

Lashing out at Mr Chatterjee, state BJP president Dilip Ghosh said at a rally in Malda, “He has vowed to tackle the bandh by hitting the road. But who will take the street? The public will skin alive them.”

Throwing a challenge to the Trinamul Congress, he added, “See the consequences hitting the road. The police will not be able to control it. All the ministers travel under Z-category security. The day Z-category security cover will taken off from them, a single slap will not go in vain. They will not find any place to wear a bandage.”

BJP national secretary Rahul Sinha said, “The bandh will be observed by the common people. So if stern action is to be taken, it has to be taken against them. The Trinamul is fielding hooligans now. They have done it during the Panchayat Elections. The state will see their muscle flexing again.”

Two students were killed when a mob clashed with police over entry of newly appointed Urdu teachers in Daribhita School in North Dinajpur’s Islampur as the protesting students said they needed science and English teachers.