She lay on a hospital bed, her left foot in plaster cast strung to an iron stand, but an “immobilised” Mamata Banerjee on Thursday had West Bengal in ferment as supporters of her ruling TMC and rival BJP clashed over the alleged attack on her in Nandigram the day before. The BJP demanded a CBI inquiry over the alleged assault to ascertain if the incident was “staged”, while a high-level TMC delegation met the Chief Electoral Officer of the state and insisted the Election Commission cannot absolve itself of culpability, insisting that maintaining law and order was the EC’s responsibility once the election has been announced.
Responding to the party’s allegations, the Election Commission on Thursday sent a strongly-worded letter to the Trinamool Congress saying it looks “undignified to even respond” to allegations that the poll panel is doing things in the state at the behest of a “particular party”. The EC said at the outset, it needs to be stated that injuries sustained by Banerjee in Nandigram “is indeed an unfortunate incident and deserves to be inquired into with promptitude and dispatch.”
“It is completely incorrect to suggest that the Election Commission has taken over the law and order machinery in the state in the name of conducting elections and appropriated the whole governance structure, the poll panel said. “This virtually tantamounts to undermine the very foundation of the Constitution of India, the most sacrosanct document in a democratic polity. The Commission does not appropriate or take over the day-to-day governance of any state including West Bengal…,” the letter by Rakesh Kumar, Secretary, EC, reads.
The Election Commission had on Tuesday ordered the removal of Virendra as the Director-General of Police of poll-bound West Bengal with immediate effect, and appointed P Nirajnayan in his place, a move that the TMC suggested resulted in the Nandigram incident.
‘I will manage in a wheelchair’
Meanwhile, Banerjee, who was ‘heckled’ and received severe injuries on her left leg in Nandigram while getting into her car after interacting with the local villagers in Birulia Bazar in East Midnapore, has decided to address series of public meetings in a wheelchair in the coming few days depending on her health situation.
Party insiders said that Mamata decided to address public meetings in a wheelchair from March 16 onwards despite having multiple injuries on her ankle and shoulder. “Our slogan will be khela hobe bhanga pai (we will play with broken legs),” he said.
‘Khela Hobe’ slogan written by TMC leader Debangshu Bhattacharya became popular and it went viral in West Bengal’s politics.
Earlier, she has planned to hold public rallies at various places from March 13 onwards but doctors have advised her complete bed rest for the next two days.
“She will be under observation for the next two days and only after that, we will suggest whether she can be released or not. But she needs to take utmost precautions while going into public places in a wheelchair,” a senior doctor at SSKM College and Hospital said.
As per the previous schedule, the TMC had planned the first two meetings in Purulia’s Baghmundi and Balarampur on March 13. On March 14, it was decided that she will address three public meetings in Bankura’s Saltora, Chhatna and in Raipur. On March 15, her schedule was planned for a public meeting in Jhargram.
Similarly, on March 16 and 17, six public meetings in West Midnapore (Garbeta, Keshiary, and Kalaikunda) and in East Midnapore (Tamluk, Egra and Patashpur) were planned but now all her political programmes were put on hold till further advice from the doctors.
On Thursday, she issued a video statement while lying on a hospital bed, requesting people to stay calm and not to indulge in any law and order violation. She said, “I would like to request my beloved brothers and sisters to maintain peace and stay healthy. Please don’t do anything which will affect the normal life. I would like to tell my party workers and common people that I actually received injuries on my left heel and ankle. There are minor soft tissue and ligament injuries. I received injuries in my head, right shoulder and right forearm.”
While recalling yesterday’s incident, she said, “I was standing on the rear seat with my body outside to greet the people. Suddenly, the door slammed shut on my feet and I received injuries. Then, I complained of chest pain and had medicines that I was carrying. In the coming two to three days I will be back to meet my people. I will manage with the help of a wheelchair despite my injuries. I don’t want to waste my meetings (political). In this time of crisis, I need cooperation from my people.”
Meanwhile, a parliamentary delegation of the TMC will meet Election Commission officials in Delhi on Friday to raise concerns over the incident which left West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee seriously injured.
TMC Secretary-General Partha Chatterjee said, “The law and order situation in Bengal was good. But after the announcement of elections law and order become the responsibility of the EC. The EC removed the DGP of the state police and the very next day she was attacked.”
He claimed that the attack was a ‘deep-rooted conspiracy’ against Mamata Banerjee to prevent her from meeting people ahead of the crucial polls.
TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien while explaining the chronology of events that are leading to conspiracy angle against Mamata, said, “On March 9, the Election Commission changed the state Director General of Police. Follow the chronology carefully. On March 10, a BJP MP posted on social media – ‘aap samajh jayenge, 5 pm ke baad kya hone wala hai’ (you will understand what will happen after 5 PM) and it happened to Mamata Didi at 6 pm. The chronology is pointing towards a conspiracy and we demand a high-level probe. Those responsible for the incident will not be spared.”
Some TMC leaders are also linking the incident with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement at Brigade Parade ground on March 7, where he had said, “I don’t want anyone hurt but what can we do if Didi’s scooty is destined to fall in Nandigram (East Midnapore).”
PM Modi referring to a recent incident when Mamata Banerjee lost balance while riding a scooty in protest against diesel and petrol price hike in Kolkata.
Meanwhile, the party has postponed the release of its manifesto for the upcoming elections in West Bengal, following the ‘attack’ on the Chief Minister.
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