TMC holds statewide rallies to honour armed forces
Times of India | 18 May 2025
12 Kolkata: Trinamool on Saturday brought out rallies across the state, from 3 to 5pm, to honour the bravery of the Indian armed forces in Operation Sindoor. CM Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said that she had directed netas of the party to express gratitude to the armed forces on May 17 and May 18, and extend support towards the families of martyrs.On Saturday, people from all walks of life participated in the rallies holding posters hailing the forces and depicting images of Havildar Jhantu Ali Sheikh, who died in counter-operations on April 24, two days after the Pahalgam terrorist attack. At a rally in Kolkata, mayor and Bengal minister Firhad Hakim said: "Our first identity is that we are Indians. The armed forces gave a befitting reply to Pakistan after the terrorist attack.We salute our soldiers and honour officers like Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh. From Jhantu Ali Sheikh to all who sacrificed their lives... their blood will not be wasted. In the face of any attack, India will stand as one."Leading another rally, state minister Shashi Panja said, "We are patriotic Indians. We offer condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. They were our loved ones too. We respect the armed forces.""We pay tribute to the bravehearts of Indian Army, Navy & Air Force, the silent sentinels of our sovereignty. We mourn the martyrs and stand with their families in shared grief," Trinamool wrote on X.In Murshidabad, the felicitation of security personnel by Shamsherganj MLA Amirul Islam in Dhuliyan drew a large crowd. In Nowda, TMC netas honoured retired armed forces personnel and families of martyrs by setting up plaques.