‘Protest before Modi, Shah’: Mamata Banerjee snaps at para teachers disrupting anti-SIR dharna

A group of para teachers under the banner of Para Teacher Unity Manch displayed posters highlighting a range of demands, including the regularisation of their temporary jobs.

Banerjee, who had been camping at the protest site since the afternoon, interrupted a speaker’s address from the dais and asked the protesters to find an alternative location for their agitation, saying her dharna was focused on the SIR issue.

“This is not the place to raise demands. This protest is SIR-related and not meant to address individual demands. Don't play politics. People are losing their lives, so this is not the time for politics. Don’t do this acting on BJP’s advice,” the Trinamool Congress supremo said after she was informed about the protest by one of her colleagues.

“Go somewhere else and protest. Protest in front of Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and Gyanesh Kumar (Chief Election Commissioner),” Banerjee added, before asking the police to designate a separate location for the demonstrators.

Denying any political link to their protest, one of the agitators, Rokon Sheikh, told the media, “We had come here only to place our demands and draw the Chief Minister’s attention. We haven’t come here for politics. We are para teachers, not BJP agents.”

A woman protester alleged that they were manhandled by some party members.

“None from the dais misbehaved, but some party members assaulted us and dragged us out of the site,” alleged Sujata Mondal.

Banerjee had started an indefinite dharna at 2 pm on Friday protesting against the Election Commission of India over the alleged deletion of names of genuine voters through the SIR process, which is yet to be completed in the state.

Around 63 lakh voters’ names were deleted until February 28, when the final voter list was published by the ECI, while another approximately 60 lakh voters’ names remain under adjudication.

Following an ongoing tussle between the ECI and the state government, the Supreme Court of India has asked judicial officers from the Calcutta High Court as well as from Odisha and Jharkhand to verify the details of the adjudicated voters.

Training her guns on the Bharatiya Janata Party, Banerjee said, “Bengal is no easy prey to be bullied into submission. Our Maa-Mati-Manush will not be harassed, intimidated, or coerced into silence. We will not be erased by your deletions, your deceit, or your Delhi diktats. I will go to any length, fight every battle, to safeguard their rights and dignity. This is our solemn oath.”

“Our dharna at Dharmatala is just the beginning. With the love and fiery resolve of the people that I witnessed today, we will politically and democratically end BJP’s reign of terror.”