New Delhi: Buoyed by the victory in the
Assembly bye-elections in West Bengal, Trinamool Congress
chief Mamata Banerjee on Thursday demanded imposition of President's
rule in the Left-ruled state, alleging that there was no
governance.
"There is no governance. The atrocities are so high. 150
people of the Trinamool Congress have been killed since the
Lok Sabha elections and the figure will be more than 300, if
workers of other parties are included", Banerjee told
reporters here.
The Railway Minister made it clear that "we want Article
356 (imposition of President's rule) against atrocities."
"Atrocities against Muslims, SC, ST and women are so high
and the state government must act according to Constitutional
provisions. The Central government cannot keep mum. We are not
asking Article 356 for our victory", she said.
Alleging that governance has come to such a pass in the
state that even the letters of the Union Home Minister are not
being replied, she said, this was "not fair" for democracy.
At the same time, the Trinamool Congress (TC) leader said
her party was not demanding early Assembly elections, which
are scheduled in 2011.
Banerjee was talking to reporters after a meeting of
political parties convened by Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar to
discuss ways and means to ensure smooth conduct of the Winter
session of Parliament beginning November 19.
The TC leader said her party would raise the issue of
violence in Lalgarh in the House as it wanted to know the
developments on the matter.
CPI(M) leader Basudeb Acharia dismissed Mamata's demand
for imposition of President's rule in the state, saying the
Left Front has got mandate to rule uptill 2011.
"She is not making the demand today, but making it for
several years", Acharia said.
Taking potshots at Mamata for her demand to raise the
Lalgarh issue in Parliament, he said the Union Cabinet took
the decision for a joint operation against Maoists there.
"Being a member of the Union Cabinet, how she can have
a different view? How she can demand that joint operation be
stopped?" he asked.
Bureau Report
First Published: Thursday, November 12, 2009, 19:37