CM to send leaders to different states to step up stir

HT, 27 Nov 2016, Kolkata: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee has decided to deploy her second-tier leaders in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Tripura to step up the agitation against demonetisation. She and other party leaders chalked out how the Trinamool Congress will carry forward its agitation against demonetisation in the country at a strategy meeting at the chief minister’s residence on Saturday.

TMC chief Mamata Banerjee leaves the venue of the meeting on Saturday.

While Subrata Bakshi, Mukul Roy will take care of matters in Lucknow, Bobby Hakim will do the same in Bihar while Jiten Tiwari and Arjun Singh will make preparations in Jharkhand. Subhendu Adhikari and Manas Bhuniya will be chart out the agitation programme in Odisha.

“The chief minister also said on November 28, Tripura Trinamool Congress will organise a rally in their state. We are also talking to the leaders of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland to launch an agitation there,” said a senior Trinamool leader requesting anonymity.

Bakshi added that as per schedule, Mamata will hit the streets on November 28 in protest against demonetisation.

It was decided that the party will spread its agitation among the workers of those sectors where weekly payments are made. Trinamool Congress has planned to unite the tea garden and bidi-rolling workers along with those working in jute mills. Apart from these workers, the employees and the depositors of co-operative banks across the state will also be included in this movement. All this was announced by the party’s all India general secretary Subrata Bakshi, when he addressed the media.

“On November 29, a demonstration will be staged in front of the tea gardens in North Bengal. The next day, the bidi workers will stage a demonstration at Dhulian in Murshidabad,” Bakshi said. His announcement made it clear that Trinamool will launch a continuous agitation against demonetisation.

The party will also stage a demonstration in front of the Tea Board in Kolkata with the tea garden workers. Already, the party has organised rallies against demonetisation in and around Kolkata.

“On December 5, a rally will be organised in which jute mill workers from different parts of the state will take part,” Bakshi added. During her visit to Delhi in the recent past, the Trinamool chief sat for a demonstration with Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in front of Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The party has also decided to give a memorandum to RBI authorities at the bank’s Kolkata office on December 2.

“On the same day, party workers, in association with the employees of co-operative banks, will agitate in front of all banks — nationalised or private — in all blocks of the state,” said the Trinamool all-India general secretary.

On Friday evening, Left Front leaders announced that they will observe a 12-hour Bengal bandh on November 28. Only banks, post offices, marriage halls and emergency services would be exempt, they said.

The leader added, “The chief minister also said that an understanding has developed between the BJP and CPI(M) and asked all her district party leaders and ministers to ensure life is normal.”

Meanwhile, state Congress president Adhir Chowdhury said on Saturday that his party is not going to support the bandh on November 28.

“After the Left Front called the bandh, there was confusion over our stand. But I want to make it clear that the Congress is going observe ‘Akrosh Diwas’ in Bengal on that day as per the directions of Rahul Gandhi,” Chowdhury said.