laming the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and other Left parties for vandalism and violence during the march to Nabanna, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday said that these parties were resorting to violence to regain power.
The clashes between supporters of the Left parties and the police on Friday were followed by challenges and counter challenges between Trinamool Congress chairperson and Leader of the Opposition Surjya Kanta Mishra.
“Forget 2016, CPI (M) will not come to power even in 3016,” Ms. Banerjee said at the rally called to observe the foundation day of the Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad.
“Those who are rejected by the people, are now resorting to violence to regain power. They have become so impatient that they cannot wait. So, they have come out on the streets with stones and sticks to come back to power,” she said.
Streets of Kolkata and suburbs of Howrah have witnessed pitched battle on Thursday as supporters of 17 Left parties clashed with the police during a march to Nabanna Building.
Ms. Banerjee said at public gathering in the day that it would take her “one minute” to reply to the challenge of the Left. Dr Mishra retorted back by saying that the Chief Minister was “speaking in the language of the criminal world.”
The Chief Minister was all praise for the police and said that despite provocation and attack by protesters on Thursday police showed restraint.
Trade Union general strike
Another issue over which the State government and the Opposition have locked horns is the proposed all-India general strike called by major trade union on September 2.
Asserting that the people of the State have rejected the culture of bandhs and strikes, Ms Banerjee said: “If an attempt is made to forcibly impose a bandh, the people will come out on the streets and resist it.”
Forget 2016, CPI (M) will not come to power even in 3016
