West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has appealed to her supporters to maintain peace and restraint a day after the alleged attack. “I urge everyone to maintain peace and abstain from doing anything that can cause inconvenience to others,” Mamata said in a video message from the Kolkata hospital where she is under treatment.
Giving an update on her injuries, Mamata said she would resume work in the next few days but would have to use a wheelchair. “I suffered injuries on my arm and leg. I also have chest pain. I was greeting people near the car when I was pushed against it and my leg was crushed by the door. I won't let it affect my meetings, but I will have to move around in a wheelchair,” she said, adding that she is on medication. Reportedly, Mamata would leave Kolkata for Nandigram once she feels better.
Earlier today, the West Bengal Police on Thursday registered a case after Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Shiekh Sufian lodged a complaint on the alleged attack on Mamata at Nandigram on Wednesday. “We have received a complaint from Shiekh Sufian. Our investigation is underway and we are collecting evidence,” a West Bengal police officer told a news agency.
Meanwhile, the TMC criticised the Election Commission (EC) for not providing security to Mamata during her election campaign in Nandigram. TMC said that the EC has to take responsibility for the attack on Mamata as the Commission has taken charge of the law and order situation in West Bengal in the name of Assembly elections. The TMC also alleged that the EC is acting “as per orders” of the BJP leaders.
TMC MP Derek O’Brien claimed that there is a nexus between the BJP and the EC. “On March 9, the EC changed the DGP. On March 10, a BJP MP posted on social media, ‘Aap samajh jayenge, 5 pm ke baad kya hone wala hai’ (You will understand, after 5 pm what will happen) and it happened to Mamata Didi at 6 pm. We condemn these incidents and want the truth to prevail,” O’Brien said after the TMC delegation met the EC in Kolkata on Thursday.
Half an hour later, a BJP delegation met the Election Commission officials and raised several questions. “Where is the ambulance? The Chief Minister’s convoy always has an ambulance. Which was the hospital that is allotted to the Chief Minister in case of emergency? Why did she have to travel to Kolkata? The TMC said it happened after the EC took over but what were the four IPS officers doing,” the BJP asked.
“We are shocked to see the West Bengal Chief Minister injured in Nandigram where she alleged that she was pushed by some people. We request a detailed probe into the matter,” the BJP delegation said, urging Mamata to call in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe the matter.
