The Trinamool Congress today climbed down from its demand for imposition of President’s Rule in West Bengal saying it wanted rule of law to prevail, but demanded deployment of the army in three Maoist-affected districts of the Left-Front ruled state.
“We are not asking for Article 356 (President’s Rule) to win elections. The Government must act as per the Constitution and protect the minorities, women and weaker sections in West Bengal,” TC Chief and Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee, told reporters after a meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, here.
The Trinamool Congress members yesterday created a ruckus in the Lok Sabha, protesting the CPI(M)’s “continuous attack” on its workers in West Bengal, leading to brief adjournment of the House.
Ms. Banerjee said her party had won the recent Lok Sabha polls, assembly by-elections and local bodies “without Article 356. We just want to protect our democratic system and safety and security of the people. We are neither for Article 355 nor Article 356. We want the genocide to stop in Bengal.”
However, Ms. Banerjee demanded deployment of the army in the Maoist-affected districts of West Midnapur, Purulia and Bankura “to recover arms being used by Maoists and to restore law and order in the area“.
Asked whether she stuck to the demand for imposition of President’s Rule in the state, she said “we are for genocide to stop and rule of the law must prevail.”
Ms. Banerjee along with her party delegation met Dr. Manmohan Singh here this afternoon.
