Speaking to media persons, Adhikari said, “We will reach out to the people to save democracy in Bengal. On July 21, we will observe Murder of Democracy Day in Bengal and burn effigies of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim. We will organise a mass movement to protest against the post-poll violence and reign of terror unleashed by the TMC.”
Incidentally, on July 21, the TMC will hold its annual ‘Martyrs’ Day’ rally in Kolkata. Every year on July 21, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addresses a public meeting in Kolkata as a tribute to the 13 people who were killed during a demonstration held by the West Bengal Youth Congress – then led by Banerjee – on July 21, 1993.
Meanwhile, following a Calcutta High Court order, Adhikari on Sunday held a dharna outside the Raj Bhavan in Kolkata to protest against the alleged post-poll violence. Adhikari and other BJP leaders like Tapas Roy, and Rudranil Ghosh participated in the protest along with 300 party workers who claimed to be victims of post-poll violence.
Speaking to media persons, Adhikari said they would soon start a mass movement across the state with the help of people and party workers who could not cast their votes in the recently-concluded Assembly bypolls in four constituencies.
“Tomorrow (Monday), I will open an online portal where people who could not vote in the bypolls due to the TMC’s terror, will be able to register their names. Full confidentiality will be maintained. Once we get the responses, we will start the mass movement and even knock on the doors of Raj Bhavan to get justice,” said Adhikari.
The Calcutta High Court had allowed Adhikari to stage a dharna outside Raj Bhavan on July 14 for four hours starting 10 am. Adhikari had moved the high court seeking permission to hold the protest outside the Raj Bhavan.
Slamming the BJP leader for his remarks, TMC state vice-president Jay Prakash Majumdar said, “Those who believe in democracy come to attend Martyrs’ Day rally on July 21 because democracy was protected through the sacrifice of youth workers several years ago on that day. Now, it is unfortunate if the BJP observes its Murder of Democracy Day on the same day.”