'People's pain bigger': Wheelchair-bound Mamata Banerjee addresses poll rally
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday addressed a campaign rally in the state's Purulia district, days after suffering injuries in an alleged attack. Bound to a wheelchair, Banerjee said that the pain of the people was greater than hers. Ahead of the state Assembly election, Banerjee was injured after allegedly being pushed in Nandigram on Wednesday. Here are more details.
'People thought I wouldn't be able to step out'
Banerjee said, "It's my good luck that I survived. I have a plaster and I cannot walk. Some thought I wouldn't be able to step out." She declared, "The pain of the people is greater than mine." She also slammed the BJP—which leads the ruling alliance at the Centre—for the fuel and LPG price hike. Banerjee then listed the schemes launched by her government.
Free ration scheme will continue: Banerjee
Banerjee said the scheme for free ration, launched amid the COVID-19 pandemic, will continue. "Our government has announced widow pension of Rs. 1,000. We have distributed caste certificates under Duarey Sarkar. We have built Raghunath Murmu campus," she added.
Banerjee claims she was 'pushed by 4-5 people'
Banerjee was injured on Wednesday after she was "pushed by 4-5 people" in Nandigram. She was visiting the region to file her nomination from the Nandigram seat. She alleged a conspiracy, adding that no security personnel was present at the time of the incident. Banerjee's Trinamool Congress (TMC) also linked the incident to the abrupt removal of the Bengal police chief a day before.
Election Commission slammed TMC's allegations
In a letter to the Election Commission, the TMC alleged a "deep-rooted conspiracy to take the life" of the CM. The party said the "gruesome attack" occurred "within 24 hours of the removal of the Bengal police chief," without the state government being consulted. The commission, however, slammed the TMC's allegations as "full of insinuations," declaring the Nandigram incident an accident.
EC suspended senior cops over Nandigram incident
Meanwhile, the commission on Sunday suspended IPS Vivek Sahay from the post of Director Security for failing to provide security to Banerjee in Nandigram. The polling body has also suspended Purba Medinipur's Superintendent of Police Pravin Prakash and removed District Magistrate Vibhu Goel.
Glitch in my helicopter; wouldn't call it conspiracy: Amit Shah
Union Home Minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Amit Shah took a jibe at Banerjee while addressing a rally at Ranibandh in the Bankura district. Arriving late at the rally, Shah said there was a glitch in his helicopter, but he would not call it a "conspiracy." The Election Commission has declared there was no attack on Banerjee, Shah said.
'What about pain of mothers of 130 BJP activists killed?'
Further, Shah said, "Didi (Banerjee), when you got hurt in your leg, you felt pain. I wish you a speedy recovery. But, what about the pain of the mothers of 130 BJP activists killed by TMC goons. Did you ever try to feel their pain?"
When will elections be held in West Bengal?
The West Bengal elections will be held in eight phases: March 27 (to be held in 30 constituencies), April 1 (30), April 6 (31), April 10 (44), April 17 (45), April 22 (43), April 26 (36), and April 29 (35). Elections will be held across 1,01,916 polling stations. The term of the Assembly ends on May 30. Votes will be counted on May 2.
