Mamata to meet PM Modi, discuss BSF jurisdiction, Tripura violence

Kolkata: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, said that she would raise her government's objection to the extension of jurisdiction of the Border Security Force (BSF) in the state and the recent attacks by BJP workers on her party leaders campaigning for the upcoming municipal elections in Tripura.

Talking about her four-day visit to New Delhi before she took a flight on Monday afternoon, Ms Banerjee lashed out at the BJP at the Centre on both the issues.

"I will meet the PM the day after tomorrow. I have an issue with the BSF. That is a big issue. I will not allow them to take control of the area forcibly. BSF is not my enemy. They are also my friends. BJP thinks BSF belongs to them and BSF means BJP is safe. This is not correct. Each organisation has its own status and identity. Law and order is a state subject. The state police have a cadre like the Central agencies. They want to capture power and bulldoze the federal structure and all in the name of cooperative federalism. They want to finish all of them. This is my priority," she said.

"Of course I will also raise other atrocities like Tripura with the PM... The situation in Tripura is volatile. The skeleton of democracy has come out there. There is no democracy in a BJP-ruled state. Goons are roaming freely with arms. Despite the order by the Supreme Court, rallies and other activities in a democratic process are not being allowed there. A mockery has been underway in the name of election," she said.

Referring to the arrest of actor-turned-TMC leader Saayoni Ghosh, Ms Banerjee complained, "An artist like her was booked under attempt to murder charge. When she was at the police station, an attack was carried out with sharp cutting weapons. Saayoni told me about these when I called her on Sunday. Abhishek (nephew) is visiting there to hold meetings. Still atrocities are being meted out to us in different forms. Many injured people were brought here and have been admitted to SSKM Hospital because no treatment is provided there. I do not know where the National Human Rights Commission is now. How many notices have been sent by the Central Government to the Tripura government? They do not care for the people and the constitution. Their only obligation is to cheat the people. They will be defeated ultimately."

Ms Banerjee also accused Union home minister Amit Shah of not giving an appointment to a delegation of TMC MPs who flew to the national capital on Sunday night to meet him on the arrest of Ms Ghosh and violent attacks on their leaders. The TMC MPs sat on a dharna outside the office of Mr Shah in the North Block since Monday morning. In the evening Mr Shah met them. Ms Ghosh, meanwhile, was granted bail by a court in Agartala.

The Trinamul Congress supremo is also likely to meet UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and other Opposition leaders to unite them and discuss strategies in the wake of Mr Modi's announcement to repeal three controversial farm laws.