Senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Friday said the party would organise a rally in Murshidabad on Saturday, two days before Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled visit to the district that witnessed clashes amid protests over the Waqf law last month. Three persons were killed in the violence that rocked several areas in Murshidabad.

Sources in the Congress said the “mega rally” would be held in Berhampore area and the party would highlight some key issues: The Waqf law and the violence that broke out in Samsergunj, Suti areas of Murshidabad district amid protests last month, apart from the loss of jobs of nearly 26,000 teaching and non-teaching staff due to the “recruitment scam” under the TMC government in the state.

A senior Congress leader said, “Adhir da initially planned to organise a ‘peace march’ covering the areas affected by violence in Murshidabad. However, the police did not give permission for this as the CM is scheduled to visit on Monday. Police said they can give permission for the march only after her visit. Then, the party decided to hold a rally at Berhampore.”

He claimed, “Adhir da and our MP from Malda, Isha Khan Chowdhury, will lead the rally on Saturday and more than 50,000 Congress workers are expected to take part.”

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who is also a former state unit chief of the Congress and a former MP from Berhampore, said, “When violence broke out, the CM did not come to Murshidabad. She is visiting now… the people know that she was not available during a crisis.”

Chowdhury added, “She thinks that transferring two police officers will resolve the problem but the people of Murshidabad will not forget. She will have to answer…”

Several houses were allegedly ransacked amid the violence last month, forcing residents to flee and take shelter in relief camps in neighbouring Malda district.