Days after BJP leaders were injured after a mob attacked them in Jalpaiguri district during their visit to flood-affected people, the party’s West Bengal unit on Wednesday took out a protest rally.
Led by senior leaders, such as Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar, Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari, former MP Locket Chatterjee and leader Rahul Sinha, the rally organised from College Street to Dorina crossing saw a large turnout of tribal men and women.
Condemning the October 6 attack on BJP MP Khagen Murmu and party MLA Shankar Ghosh, the protesters raised slogans against the Trinamool Congress government. During the rally, many were seen with bows and arrows and Dhamsa Madol (a musical instrument) in their hands even as others were carrying placards reading , “Tribal lives matter, anti-adivasi Chief Minister” , “ I am an adivasi, not Mamata vote bank.”
“There have been continuous atrocities on the tribals and adivasis in Bengal under this government… it became even more evident with the attack on MP Khagen Murmu. No adivasi is safe in Bengal,” BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh, who had a plastered cast around his shoulder, told the media persons.
Hitting out at the ruling party, former MP Locket Chatterjee said, “ We condemn the attack on our adivasi MP. He is also the son of our soil. In Bengal, adivasis are not safe … adivasi woman are being raped and murdered.”
We are holding the rally to protest against the atrocities on adivasis, BJP leader Rahul Sinha told The Indian Express. “TMC has continuously attacked the tribal community. Such a situation has been created in Bengal that they do not have the freedom to move or speak freely,” Sinha said.
“This government is against the adivasis and the country. They don’t protect the adivasis… such a government should not stay in the chair,” said Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar.
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Meanwhile Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari appealed everyone to come together and fight to oust the present government. “This government is anti-adivasi. We are appealing to everyone to come together… the adivasis and the BJP together will remove this government.”
Adhikari stated that once the SIR (Special Intensive Revision) is implemented, he will defeat her. “I will defeat her in Bhawanipore after the implementation of SIR . She is anti-adivasi and anti-woman… Khagen Murmu had not gone with a party flag, he had gone there with relief materials. Who assaulted him… the infiltrators from Bangladesh, the Rohingyas,” he said.
“We will bring change… avenge every drop of Khagen Murmu’s blood . I have defeated her in Nandigram in the last assembly election, this time, I will defeat her in Bhawanipore and make her an ex-CM and also put her nephew (Abhishek Banerjee) behind bars,” he added.
