Changing her plan to hold a political rally at Lalgarh on August 9 as her party’s show of strength, Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has now decided to make it an apolitical event. She took pains to explain that the rally, which has already triggered a huge controversy, would not be held under the Trinamul Congress banner.
“Ours will be an apolitical anti-terror rally. Although supporters of political parties are welcome to participate in it they will have to keep their respective flags aside,” she said. She indiciated that Swami Agnivesh may also address the rally.
In a clear change of plan, Ms Banerjee now does not want to go it alone in Lalgarh. She has, therefore, called upon all anti-Left and anti-Maoist forces and even members of civil society to assemble there on August 9. The day will be observed as “Ganatantra Bachao Diwas” (Save Democracy Day), she stated.
“Didi clearly believes in safety in numbers,” a close Mamata aide said. Only 24 hours ago, Ms Banerjee had claimed that she would address a public rally at Lalgarh and had dared the CPI(M) to prevent her from doing so.
She had also made the sensational allegation that the ruling party would try to eliminate her and for this purpose it had even set up a suicide squad.
She said, “The rally will be organised under Santras Birodhi Mancha (Platform Against Terror) banner so that all could join it to press for their demand for restoration of democracy, peace and developement in the Jangalmahal.”
Ms Banerjee explained that the anti-terror platform would be a non-partisan one because many people and organisation wanted to attend the programme.
“I invite the intellectuals and NGOs to attend it. I also urge the political parties to rise above their political differences and come to the rally,” she added.
Ms Banerjee explained that the visitors, who had expressed their desire to attend the rally from different parts of the country, may not be keen to do so if her party’s name was involved.