By IANS,
Kolkata: A three-member Trinamool Congress team will visit troubled Lalgarh in West Bengal July 28 to study the situation in and around the enclave, where security forces are carrying out operations to flush out Maoist ultras.
Making the announcement at a hugely attended “Martyrs’ Rally” in the hub of the city, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee Tuesday said the delegation will comprise union Minister of State for Rural Development Sisir Adhikari, Minister of State for Shipping Mukul Roy and Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal assembly Partha Chattopadhyay.
Banerjee criticised the Lalgarh security operation alleging that innocent people were being harassed.
Raising questions about the genuineness of the government claims about the existence of Maoist rebels, Banerjee said: “How can Maoists call from the mobiles of CPI-M (state’s ruling Left Front major Communist Party of India-Marxist) leaders? ‘Daal mein kuch kala hai kya?’ (Is there something fishy).”
The West Bengal government launched the security operation in consultation with the central government June 18 to free the area of the leftwing extremists, who had virtually established a free zone by torching police camps and CPI-M offices and driving out the civil administration since November last year.
However, the Trinamool has consistently maintained that the operation was a ploy by the CPI-M to re-establish its writ in the area and commit atrocities on political rivals.
Announcing a series of party programmes at the rally, Banerjee said meetings and processions will be organised in every block July 25 against rising prices.
On July 27, the Trinamool will observe ‘Nanur Divas’, in memory of 11 party supporters killed in 2000 at Suchpur village of Nanur in Birbhum district.
The party will hold sit-in demonstrations in all bocks of the state July 31.
The party will hold workers’ conventions towards the end of next month and organise booth level workers’ conclave Oct 31.
The Trinamool Congress observes July 21 as “Martyrs’ Day” every year in memory of 13 Congress supporters who were killed in police firing this day in 1993. Banerjee was then in the Congress.