TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar has attacked CM Mamata Banerjee for condemning the lathi charge on students in Delhi. Accusing Mamata of hypocrisy, he reminded her of the lathicharge on teachers in Bengal and termed her statement as selective sympathy.
New Delhi [भारत]July 20 (ANI): Rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar on Monday launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. He accused Mamata of political hypocrisy over the police action against student protesters in the national capital. Dastidar told ANI, “When the issue of appointment of teachers came up in Bengal, a year or two ago in his government, there was lathi charge on teachers, even those who had small children in their hands. Didn’t this question arise in his mind at that time?”
Questions raised on ‘selective sympathy’
Dastidar’s comments came in response to a social media post by the Trinamool Congress supremo in which she had condemned Delhi Police’s action against the youth marching towards Parliament. Terming Banerjee’s anger as ‘selective sympathy’, Dastidar pointed to the previous TMC government’s strict action against teacher recruitment protesters in Kolkata. In a post on Twitter, he asserted that the country belongs to its students, farmers, women, workers and every citizen, and declared that dissent is not a crime in the country.
Mamta Banerjee had condemned the police action
Banerjee had said, “I strongly condemn the police brutality carried out on our youth and students in Delhi today. What kind of government is this that is afraid of its own students? What kind of democracy is this that answers questions with sticks and tear gas instead of dialogue? The country belongs to its students, farmers, women, workers and every citizen. Dissent is not a crime. Brutality is not governance. I stand firmly with my young brothers and sisters. Accountability is non-negotiable. Hats off to each of them for their courage, resilience and indomitable spirit. They have shown the country what fearlessness is.”
Demonstration and police action in Delhi
Earlier in the day, Delhi Police resorted to mild lathi charge to disperse hundreds of protesters trying to march towards the Parliament House. The protest, which started at Jantar Mantar, led to heavy traffic disruption in the national capital as a large number of security personnel were deployed to control the growing crowd. Several Rapid Action Force personnel are deployed nearby to handle both the CJP protest march and the upcoming session.
In a statement, Delhi Police said prohibitory orders are in force in New Delhi district under section 163 of the Indian Civil Security Code (BNSS), which is similar to the earlier section 144 of the CrPC. According to the advisory, protest marches, processions, demonstrations and gatherings of five or more persons are prohibited, except at the designated protest site at Jantar Mantar with prior permission.
Police said that with the monsoon session of Parliament beginning from July 20, elaborate security arrangements have been made to ensure public safety, safety of protected persons and security of important government establishments. Delhi Police further warned that anyone violating the prohibitory orders could be prosecuted under Section 223 of the Indian Justice Code (BNS) and other applicable provisions of law.
Later, Delhi Police appealed to all the protesters to maintain peace, exercise restraint and cooperate with the police in ensuring peace and public order. “All participants are requested to behave in a peaceful manner, refrain from indulging in any unlawful or violent activities and follow the legal instructions issued by the police officers/personnel on duty,” Delhi Police said in a post on Twitter.
Police also advised people not to believe or spread rumours, misinformation or unverified content through any platform. The post further said, “Citizens are requested to trust only authentic sources of information and cooperate with Delhi Police in maintaining peace, harmony and public order.” (ANI)
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