scuffle between TMC and BJP Activists pay tribute to 14 villagers killed in 2007 police firing during the anti-land acquisition agitation at Nandigram in East Midnapore district on Monday.
Chief Minister Mamata BanerjeeMeanwhile, announced that March 14 would be observed as ‘Farmers Day’ in memory of 14 villagers who, among others, had protested against land acquisition for a chemical center to be set up by Indonesia’s Salim Group .
Local TMC workers led by its leaders Kunal Ghosh and Dola Sen laid wreaths at the memorial built after the firing incident. Moments later, some BJP workers threw the TMC garland and replaced it with theirs, triggering a scuffle between workers of both the parties. The situation was brought under control after police personnel reached the spot.
Hours later, Leader of the Opposition and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, who defeated Banerjee from Nandigram in last year’s assembly elections, also paid respects to the villagers.
Trinamool Congress state general secretary Kunal Ghosh attacked the officer. “He has gone to the BJP to save them from the CBI and ED probe,” he said. He is a traitor who has betrayed the martyrs of Nandigram for his political interest. He indulged in electoral malpractice to win the assembly elections.
Hitting back at him, the official said, “As much as the BJP surrounds the TMC in the state assembly, the ruling party is sending its leaders here to defame us.” It shows that we are doing our job properly.”