TMC MP Derek O'Brien Seeks Delhi Police Permission To Protest Unpaid MGNREGA Wages In Bengal

Derek O’Brien has written a fresh letter to the Delhi Police, seeking permission to hold a protest in the national capital against the central government.

Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien has written a fresh letter to the Delhi Police, seeking permission to hold a protest at three places in the national capital against the central government pertaining to wages under the MGNREGA scheme.

In the letter to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Parliament Street Police Station, the TMC leader claimed that workers from West Bengal have been denied wages under the MGNREGA scheme. The protest is scheduled to be held on October 2 and 3 at Lodhi Street, outside the residence of Union Minister Giriraj Singh, Krishi Bhawan, and Jantar Mantar.

"With reference to my letter dated August 31, 2023, requesting for permission for the All India Trinamool Congress to hold a dharna involving workers from the State of Bengal who have been denied wages under the MGNREGA scheme from 10 AM to 6 PM on October 2 and October 3, 2023 at Krishi Bhawan. We are yet to receive a response regarding the same. Request for an update at the earliest, the letter read.

Earlier this month, TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee had announced ‘Delhi Chalo’, saying the party would take to the streets of Delhi on October 2 to protest against the Centre government withholding the dues of the West Bengal government.

In July, Abhishek Banerjee exhorted the party's local leaders and supporters to gherao the homes of BJP leaders in Bengal on August 5. He said that this is the only way left now to demand the blocked funds for Bengal. He said that the 100-day-work scheme funds amounting to nearly Rs 7,000 crore. He was speaking at the Trinamool Congress's annual Martyr's Day rally.

"The centre has also blocked dues of the 100-day work scheme under the MGNREGA. This amounts to Rs 7,000-8,000 crore. All our local leaders should peacefully gherao the homes of all BJP leaders in the state to protest this," he said. TMC supremo and Bengal Chief Mamata Banerjee said that the gherao must be held peacefully and at least 100 metres away from the homes of the BJP leaders. "If there are elders in the house, do not trouble them. Let them pass freely. Conduct symbolic gheraos in blocks. Do not create hindrances for the family members [of the BJP leaders]. Stay 100 metres away from the houses so that no one can accuse us of illegal confinement."