October 7, 2010
Pull out Jangalmahal forces – reiterates Mamata:
For long a vociferous advocate of withdrawal of central forces from Maoist bastion Jangalmahal, Trinamool chief Ms. Mamata Banerjee doesn’t want to wait any more. "From Thursday, my party will hit West Midnapore streets with this demand. If need be, Trinamool MPs will also organize protests in Delhi," the Trinamool chief said on Wednesday during a party gathering in Midnapore town. The Trinamool chief ended her whirlwind tour of West Midnapore district on Wednesday by throwing a challenge to the CPM, which she referred to as a party of ‘supari killers’. "Give me a date and time. I shall be prepared. You tried to finish me off earlier as well but did not succeed. I shall not fight you with guns. The people are ready to give you your just rewards. It is time that the CPM accepts that its days are numbered. The people of the state have decided that they want change," the Trinamool supremo told a huge gathering at the Midnapore College ground. Lashing out at West Bengal CM for his recent remarks against the Trinamool Congress, Ms. Banerjee said criminal charges should be filed against him. "What would have happened had the chief ministers of Bihar, Orissa or Jharkhand made such remarks? How can a chief minister ask ‘who will save Mamata?’ After all, he is referring to the railway minister of the country. It is not for the CPM to decide when I should come to Midnapore. I shall come and go as I choose." She also sounded extremely displeased with West Midnapore SP Manoj Verma, who she referred to as a top CPM agent. "He (Manoj Verma) tortures people by slashing them with razor blades and then rubs lime juice and salt into the wounds. Does he think he can escape with the riches he has acquired? I will drag him back and make him apologise to the people. The Trinamool will win the Assembly polls comfortably in places like Lalgarh, Goaltore and Salboni. The CPM is confident of a win in Keshpur. They don’t realize that the people of Keshpur will show them the door. What has the government done in the last 34 years? People asked for food. They got bullets instead. Peace can’t be achieved without development. What happened to the state government’s much touted Salboni project? I have plans for Jangalmahal and will set up a number of industrial units there. I shall also link Lalgarh by rail as soon as peace returns," the Trinamool supremo said. The first two programmes during the day at Kharagpur and Bhadutala were railway functions. The railway minister decided to convert the name of the halt station at Bhadutola to Jangalmahal (Bhadutala) Halt. "We set up the halt station within two months of the demand. Before long, it will be converted into a full-fledged station. The Kharagpur-Purulia Intercity Express will be named Olchiki Express to honour Santhals. I believe this much needs to be done for people who have been neglected for years. Trinamool will win in Lalgarh. I would ask those from the minority community to stand by the Adivasis. CPM should remember that the British didn’t succeed in of Midnapore. Just as the CPM showed their backs in Singur and Nandigram, they will slip out of Lalgarh soon," Ms. Banerjee said.
Image Courtesy: Anandabazar Patrika
