Mamata flexes muscle at Martyrs' Day rally, challenges Opposition
"I have no affinity for power. I am here for people and I want those people with me who work for people in the grassroots instead of trying to project them to me," she said as countless Trinamool Congress supporters across West Bengal poured in at the gathering at the city's nerve centre at Esplanade here on Tuesday to participate in the July 21 Martyr's Day rally observed every year since 1993 by Mamata Banerjee to remember the 13 people shot dead by the police during a rally led by her as a Youth Congress leader 23 years ago.
The crackdown on the rally and the subsequent deaths took place this day (July 21) in 1992 and since then Mamata Banerjee has been observing the day as a Martyr's Day.
She said to derail everything the Opposition parties like the CPI-M, Congress and BJP are spreading misinformation, slander and lies and they would be wiped out from the face of Bengal.
She said those trying to spread riots will be dealt with and TMC will court death but not bow before the Centre's ruling party.
She said she will not allow any division of Bengal and will not tolerate those who indulge in riots. CPI-M, Congress and BJP are now one in Bengal, she said.
"Now even the CPI-M has bowed before the BJP. But we never surrendered," said Banerjee, who accused the Centre of holding back funds.
Referring to her slogan of Ma, Mati and Manush (Mother, Earth and People), Banerjee said the day signifies "looking back, respecting the forces of youth, women, down trodden, dreams and movement and fight."
"A leader is made through work and he or she is not one who does not look at himself or herself but towards the people."
Taking a dig at the Left, she said for 35 years the communists did nothing for people, tribal, minority, women, none. "We have paid Rs 72,000 crore for paying off the debt incurred by the previous Left government," she said.
"We can say with pride now that 35,000 imams get allowances for their work," she said.
"In Jungalmahal [the formerly Maoist dominated areas] we give people rice for Rs 2 per kilo. We are surveying and doing things. He said the former BPL [Below Poverty Line] cards have been replaces but social development scheme cards," said Banerjee.
She said those who were in BPL should be enrolled in the new scheme as she urged her party workers to ensure that all poor people and even the middle class are included in the scheme.
"No poor or ordinary people should be left out. We will give Rs 2 rice to 2 crore people and Rs 3 rice to 3 crore people," she said.
"22 lakh girls are registered under Kanyashree scheme. 2 lakh more will registered on 14 August, Kanyashree Dibas," she said.
Highlighting her achievements, Banerjee said the Centre is doing publicity for Swachh Bharat while Bengal's Nadia district shows the way in action.
"From the UNICEF to the World Bank and UNESCO - Everyone is honouring Bengal's schemes," she said.
Challenging the CPI-M, Congress and BJP, she said more they attack her, more they would lose.
"We have broken all records this year in this year. Next year we will break even this record at Brigade. Vidhan Sabha election is scheduled next year. We have to win the elections," she said.
"She will take the state forward in the path of Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy," said Trinamool Congress leader and minister Subrata Mukherjee.
TMC leader Sudip Bandopadhayay said there would not force like the Left after the next year's election in 2016 and he would not be surprised if TMC bags more than 250 seats in the state Assembly.
"If you do not find Didi in Nabanna [state secretariat], then make sure that she is in some room in the South Block of New Delhi," said Bandopadhayay hinting that Mamata Banerjee would continue to remain the chief minister and if at all she quits she will be ruling from Delhi.
Abhishek Banerjee, nephew or Banerjee, parliamentarian and a rising leader of the TMC, also spoke on the occasion as he challenged the Opposition and said Mamata Banerjee will continue to rule West Bengal.
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