TMC Delegation Detained For Insisting on Visiting Assam To Study Situation Post NRC Draft Release
A TMC delegation comprising six Members of Parliament and 2 MLAs deputed by the party’s supremo to Assam to make an on-the spot study of the plight of the people post release of NRC draft was detained by the Police at Silchar airport on Thursday. Police said despite repeatedly informing them that there was Section 14 Cr PC imposed on the Cachar district as a precautionary measure , the delegation insisted on proceeding to the city and two constables were injured .They would be put up in a guest house tonight and send back on an aircraft bound for Bengal tomorrow . They were scheduled to land in Guwahati on Friday .An angry Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on receipt of their detention lashed out at the Centre and the Assam government / The delegation was on a two-day visit to the state where they were scheduled to participate in a convention against the National Register of Citizenship (NRC) which was released on Monday.
While addressing the media, the TMC head honcho said, “A parliamentary delegation went to meet the people (in Assam). They were not allowed outside the airport. Why is the Assam government behaving like this, along with the Centre? This is a political vendetta. The BJP only has muscle power.”“If Section 144 has been imposed in the area why couldn’t the delegation go in groups of two and meet the affected people whose names have not appeared on the NRC draft , she added. She also alleged The police roughed up the members including the lady lawmakers Four lady MPs and one lady MLA, also one state minister and our party’s chief whip in the all of them were subjected to this uncalled-for behaviour: This is the beginning of their end. They are frustrated. That is why they are acting like a bunch of hooligans: AS Mamata is upping ante against the BJP-led government at the Centre, Assam TMC chief has resigned protesting against TMC’s stance on NRC draft.The TMC delegation consisted of consisted of Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Ratna De Nag, Nadimul Haque, Arpita Ghosh, Mamata Bala Thakur, Firhad Hakim and Mahua Moitra. The team arrived at the airport on Thursday afternoon and was supposed to participate in the convention, besides visiting various parts of the state.“As soon as we reached the arrival lounge of the Silchar airport, we were confronted by a team comprising the district magistrate and police officers. Police personnel hit me on my chest. The cops also manhandled Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Mamata Bala Thakur and Mahua Moitra,” TMC Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray alleged. The 8 member TMC team lead by Minister Firhad Hakim plans to hold a meeting in Cachar district. However, currently, Section 144 is imposed in Cachar district, which comprises of large Bengali population. “We will sit here till the time they don’t allow us to go out,” he said, adding that they are waiting for instructions from the party leadership to decide on their next step.