New Delhi: In response to mounting attacks from the BJP and other opposition parties over the Sandeshkhali issue, West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Sunday announced plans for a large-scale rally at the historic Brigade Parade Ground on March 10 to protest alleged discrimination by the central government against the state's social welfare projects. The rally will be led by TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee and the party’s national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, PTI reported party sources as saying.
Announcing it on X, Abhishek Banerjee revealed that the rally, titled 'Jana Garjan Sabha' (roar of the masses), will also take a vow to throw out the outside tormentors from Bengal, implicitly referring to the BJP and its national leaders who have been frequenting the state to address various issues.
The decision to stage the mega rally comes amid ongoing protests in Sandeshkhali by rural women, who have raised allegations of atrocities committed by local TMC leaders linked to the absconding party figure Sheikh Shahjahan, as per PTI.
TMC Accused BJP Of Attempting To Incite Unrest And Disrupt Peace
The Sandeshkhali incident in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas has gained national attention, with opposition leaders such as Suvendu Adhikari and Sukanta Majumdar visiting the area to engage with locals.However, amidst these visits, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has accused the BJP of attempting to incite unrest and disrupt peace. The tensions between the two parties have intensified, particularly following the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid at the residence of Sheikh Shahjahan in January, reported PTI.
The Brigade Parade Ground holds immense significance in West Bengal's political landscape, and rallies held there garner considerable attention. The last notable TMC rally at the Brigade Parade Ground occurred on July 21, marking Martyrs' Day, which pays homage to youth Congress workers who lost their lives in police firing during a secretariat march in the 1990s. Meanwhile, the last prominent rally organised at the Brigade Parade Ground was orchestrated by the CPI(M) in January, as per PTI.