July 20, 2012
Trinamool on last-minute preparations for Shahid Dibas, 34 giant screens at venue
Barely a few hours left for the rally at the Dharmatala, the Trinamool Congress is gearing up for the `Shahid Shorone` (Martyrs` Day) rally tomorrow, tomorrow, the programme which is scheduled to start around afternoon tomorrow will have a massive gathering.
People from districts and places outside Kolkata will take part in large numbers. To ensure smooth flow of traffic tomorrow, the administration has taken adequate measures. Roads which will be used by visitors to reach the venue will be specially manned by the administration to avoid any untoward incident. There will be special parking arrangement near the Ganga Ghats. Traffic Police has been asked to stay on alert and ensure steady flow of traffic.
Last minute preparations are on and party workers in large numbers are deployed to take stock of the situation. The high command has issued strictures that in circumstances the public commuting on the designated roads should face harassment. The party members under the leadership of the party General Secretary on Sunday held a meeting at the Trinamool Bhawan and discussed various administrative measures – those who will be coming from the districts should reach Kolkata on July 19 to avoid any last-minute commotion. The traffic commuting from the Howrah and Sealdah station on that day will not be disturbed and officials have been asked to make sure that the general commuters should not face any sort of harassment. Special protection are taken to protect the venue in case of rains.
This year Trinamool Congress Chairperson and West Bengal Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee decided to hold the meeting at Dharmatala. Last year the rally was held at the Brigade Parade Grounds but due to inclement weather since early morning on that day the programme was washed out. However, inspite of the cyclonic weather the turn out was immense as they all had come to listen to the Trinamool Congress Chairperson and Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee.
Nearly 19-years have passed and the Trinamool Congress on July 21, 2012 each year organize a rally to pay their respects to the martyrs. The Trinamool Congress pay their respect to the martyrs who had lost their lives on July 21, 1993, when the Calcutta Police, under Left Front Government mercilessly opened fire and killed 13 innocent activists. Youth Congress supporters under the leadership of Ms. Banerjee, then West Bengal State President of Youth Congress had organized Writers' Abhijaan (march towards Writers' Building) in demand that the 'Voters' Identity Card' be made the only valid document to verify voters in order to put a stop the rampant 'scientific rigging' gathered at five different points across the city. Youth Congress supporters gathered at five different points in the city and the one which had assembled at the Howrah station and began marching towards the destination along Brabourne Road were stopped by a large contingent of police near the Tea Board office, barely few minutes from the Writers' Building. An unleashed police force started beating up the crowd mercilessly in order to drive them away from the vicinity of the Writers' Building. The police opened fire killing 13 supporters and leaving 200 severely injured.
There will nearly 34 giant digital screens at the strategic point in and around the venue in order to enable masses to watch their favourite Didi.
