Upset Over Violence By 'Congress, Left' Workers During Bharat Bandh, Mamata To Boycott Jan 13 Oppn Meet

"I have decided to boycott the meeting convened by Sonia Gandhi on January 13 in New Delhi as I don't support the violence that the Left and Congress unleashed in West Bengal yesterday (Wednesday)," the chief minister said at the state Assembly.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee (PIC/PTI)

Kolkata (West Bengal): The schism between Mamata Banerjee and other Opposition leaders over the trade union strike has prompted the West Bengal CM to boycott the opposition meeting convened by Congress president Sonia Gandhi on January 13. Mamata is registering her protest over the violence unleashed in the state allegedly by Left Front and Congress workers during a trade union strike. The 24-hour nationwide strike by central trade unions in West Bengal on Wednesday was marked by incidents of violence and arson, blocking of railway tracks and roads by protestors trying to enforce the shutdown. Banerjee said "double standards" of the Left Front and Congress will not be tolerated. "I have decided to boycott the meeting convened by Sonia Gandhi on January 13 in New Delhi as I don't support the violence that the Left and Congress unleashed in West Bengal yesterday (Wednesday)," the chief minister said at the state Assembly, reported news agency PTI. Two days before nationwide strike, Mamata had said her government was opposed to strikes or shutdowns and did not want the people to be inconvenienced. "Since the time we came to power, we have not backed bandhs, though we have supported the issues. Our protest will continue. We are on the side of the citizens, for the rights of the citizens. But why should we go for a strike?" Sonia Gandhi has called a meeting of opposition parties, including the Left, to discuss the situation arising out of violence on various university campuses and protests in the country and corner the government over the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019.