Kolkata/New Delhi: Doing what she is best at, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday escalated her protest against the Centre and the CBI by vowing to continue her “satyagraha” to save the country and the Constitution till February 8 amid a tsunami of support from Opposition parties.
Describing her stir as “non-political”, Ms Banerjee said, “It’s not a political programme. But all political parties can join us in our protest.”
In Delhi, Trinamul spokesperson Derek O’Brien said that 22 parties have extended their support to the protest against the Centre.
“Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, TD’s N. Chandrababu Naidu, RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav, DMK’s Kanimozhi have expressed their desire to join the protest and are going to Kolkata. Others like Samajwadi Party’s leader Kiranmay Nanda have already visited the protest site,” said Mr O’Brien.
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi has also extended his party’s support to Ms Banerjee.
The TMC chief is understood to have also got phone calls from SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, BSP chief Mayawati, Mr Kejriwal and Mr Naidu, he said.
Pointing to the non-political nature of the dharna, Mr O’ Brien said, “There is not even a single Trinamul flag at the protest site.”
TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee alleged that the home minister is hiding facts from Parliament. He claimed the Kolkata high court had stayed the summons issued by the probe agency to Kolkata police chief till February 13.
Both the Houses were disrupted and eventually adjourned over the issue.
Across West Bengal, Trinamul activists organised rallies and sit-in demonstrations to protest against the BJP-led Central government and stopped train movement in at least two districts.
The ruling BJP, meanwhile, alleged that Ms Banerjee is on a dharna to save herself from the CBI which is probing the chit fund cases as per the orders of the Supreme Court.
Union minister and Asansol MP Babul Supriyo demanded that President’s rule be imposed in the state as he accused Ms Banerjee of aligning with those indulging in corruption.
The TMC supremo had earlier said she would not attend the Assembly, where the state budget would be placed by Finance Minister Amit Mitra, on Monday.
