TMC Leaders Detained In Delhi Over Sit-In Protest Alleging MoS Failed To Meet Despite Appointment

TMC leaders including MPs Abhishek Banerjee and Mahua Moitra were detained by the police at Krishi Bhavan premises in Delhi as they staged a sit-in protest over meeting Union MoS Sadhvi Niranjan.

A Trinamool Congress (TMC) delegation, led by TMC leader and Member of Parliament Abhishek Banerjee, on Tuesday, staged a sit-in protest inside Krishi Bhavan in Delhi, alleging that Union Minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti failed to meet them despite a scheduled appointment. The Trinamool Congress leaders protesting inside Krishi Bhavan in Delhi were then briefly detained by police and released before midnight, news agency PTI reported.

The TMC delegation marched to the Rural Development Ministry at Krishi Bhavan to meet Minister of State, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti. TMC leaders refused to leave Krishi Bhavan, where they had brought bundles of letters addressed to the Prime Minister and the Rural Development Minister until they secured a meeting with the MoS.

Abhishek Banerjee, the TMC National General Secretary and MP, expressed his dissatisfaction with the situation, stating, "We were scheduled to meet Union Minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti at 6:00 PM today. We waited for 90 minutes, after which we were informed that she would not be able to meet us. It's worth noting that Sadhvi Niranjan met Suvendu Adhikari today at 4:00 PM, but we were made to wait here. If she doesn't want to meet us, then it's okay, but we will not leave from here; we will continue sitting here."

The sit-in dharna continued till around 9 pm after which the TMC leaders including MPs Abhishek Banerjee and Mahua Moitra were detained by the police and evicted from the ministry premises. The Trinamool Congress alleged that the phones of some leaders were also taken by the police, PTI reported. 

The disagreement stems from restrictions on the number of TMC representatives allowed to meet the Minister of State (MoS). "We had an appointment at 6:00 PM to meet MoS Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, and we have been waiting for 1 hour and 40 minutes. Now we are being told that only 5 people will be allowed to meet the MoS," said TMC MP Santanu Sen, who is participating in the MGNREGA protests in Delhi, as quoted by PTI. 

Sen emphasised that the TMC delegation would not meet with the Minister unless all eight of their representatives were permitted to meet her simultaneously.

Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra took to X and posted: "This is how elected MPs of the world’s largest democracy are treated after being given an appointment to meet with a Minister of the Govt of India (which she refused to honour after making us wait 3 hours)"

TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee along with other party members were then released before midnight while Trinamool workers gheraod Police Lines Kingsway Camp in Delhi.

This sit-in protest at Krishi Bhavan follows a series of protests by the TMC in the national capital. The TMC, led by Abhishek Banerjee and accompanied by party lawmakers, state ministers, and supporters, including MGNREGS workers, had previously demonstrated at Jantar Mantar. This protest came one day after they held a two-hour sit-in at Rajghat on Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary where they were evicted by the police.

TMC's 70,000 Elected Representatives In Bengal Would Forgo One-Month Salary: Abhishek Banerjee

Abhishek Banerjee announced during the protest that TMC's elected representatives would forgo their salaries to pay MGNREGA workers, ensuring payments within two months even if the Centre does not disburse their dues.

He also accused the Centre of attempting to obstruct their protest, highlighting the heavy police presence.

"Yesterday they sent around 5,000 to 10,000 police personnel, RAF, and other forces to stop 50 leaders of the TMC. Today as well, the number of security personnel here makes it appear as if an India-China war is going on here," the Diamond Harbour MP remarked, as quoted by PTI.

Banerjee added that the TMC's 70,000 elected representatives in Bengal would forgo a month's salary to ensure timely payments to workers.

The BJP has dismissed the TMC's allegations, labeling them as political theatrics to divert attention from alleged scams in West Bengal.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Minister of Rural Development Pradip Mazumdar demanded the release of funds by the Centre, noting that Rural Development Minister Giriraj Singh had previously assured that the funds would be released during a meeting on November 7, 2022. Mazumdar emphasised that there is no difference between the poor people of Begusarai, Giriraj Singh's constituency, and Bengal.

On Monday, Giriraj Singh, in his constituency of Begusarai, accused the state government of siphoning off the Centre's funds and alleged that over 25 lakh job cards had been deleted in West Bengal. The Centre is reportedly contemplating ordering a CBI probe into the matter.