BJP trying to break TMC using ‘moneybags’, alleges Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday (December 7) accused the BJP of trying to break her party by using money power after TMC leader Suvendu Adhikari and his family skipped her rally in West Midnapore.

Adhikari recently quit as a minister and said it was difficult for him to work with the TMC leadership. A series of talks failed to pacify him.

Not just Suvendu, but the entire Adhikari family — father Sisir Adhikari and brothers Dibyendu and Soumendu — were conspicuous by their absence. Sisir and Dibyendu Adhikari are TMC MPs from Tamluk and Kanthi Lok Sabha seats and Soumendu is an MLA from East Midnapore.

Related News: A day after talks, Suvendu Adhikari again upset with TMC

“All TMC MLAs of West Midnapore are present here today. I want to tell those who spread canards against TMC leaders that we are the most honest party. We are not like the BJP, which is using its moneybags to dislodge opposition-run governments in states and trying to break opposition parties,” Banerjee told the rally.

Calling the TMC “a hard nut to crack” that will not surrender before the saffron party, Banerjee, without naming anyone, said she would also not give in to attempts to “blackmail and bargain” her party ahead of the polls.

“Those who are corrupt are now joining the BJP. The CPI(M) goons now have switched sides and are working as cadres of the BJP,” she alleged.

Banerjee had recently issued a stern warning to those indulging in anti-party activities and asked TMC leaders in touch with the opposition to quit the ruling party instead of weakening it.

The rally at the Midnapore College Ground was held at a time when the rift between the TMC and Suvendu has widened. After the failed talks, the TMC had said the rapprochement efforts were a “closed chapter”.

BJP worker dies in Siliguri

Meanwhile, police fired teargas shells and used water cannons on Monday to quell a violent protest called by the Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) in Siliguri against the TMC government during which a BJP worker died, officials said. Several protesters and police personnel were injured in clashes.

BJYM chief and Lok Sabha MP Tejasvi Surya, who was part of the protest marches, accused the Mamata government of “murder”. He alleged that the BJP worker died due to injuries caused by “country bombs that Mamata’s police threw”.

“I am informed by our local karyakartas that Sri Ulen Roy, a senior BJP karyakarta, has succumbed to splinter injuries caused by the country bombs that Mamata’s police threw. This is murder. Nothing less. We are very angry. We will never forgive you Mamata Di. Om Shanti! (sic),” Surya tweeted with pictures of the deceased worker.

I am informed by our local karyakartas that Sri Ulen Roy, a senior BJP karyakarta, has succumbed to splinter injuries caused by the country bombs that Mamata’s police threw.

This is murder. Nothing less.

We are very angry. We will never forgive you Mamata Di.

Om Shanti! pic.twitter.com/7xgZcKus4n

— Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) December 7, 2020

Sharing a video, Surya wrote in another tweet, “Our BJYM karyakartas are made of steel. You can’t break us. You can’t shake our resolve. Friends, just see how many tear gas shells are shot here! (sic).”

Our BJYM karyakartas are made of steel.

You can’t break us. You can’t shake our resolve.

Friends, just see how many tear gas shells are shot here! pic.twitter.com/GwiA2od4xJ

— Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) December 7, 2020

West Bengal Police, on their Twitter handle, said they “showed restraint” and the actual cause of death would be known after the post mortem.

“Today in Siliguri, serious acts of violence were committed by the supporters of a political party during their protest program. They resorted to arson, brick-batting, firing and vandalism of govt property. (1/2) (sic),” they tweeted.

“Police showed restraint and didn’t do lathicharge or used fire arms. Only water cannons and tear gas were used to disperse the violent crowd. However, death of a person has been reported. Body is being sent for PM. The actual cause of death will be known only after the PM (2/2) (sic),” they added in another tweet.

Police showed restraint and didn’t do lathicharge or used fire arms. Only water cannons and tear gas were used to disperse the violent crowd. However, death of a person has been reported. Body is being sent for PM. The actual cause of death will be known only after the PM (2/2)

— West Bengal Police (@WBPolice) December 7, 2020

(With inputs from PTI)