PM apologises to Mamata, TMC to hold protest rallies

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and apologised for the incident outside the Planning Commission headquarters in New Delhi yesterday where protesting SFI members heckled her, and attacked her state finance Minister Amit Mitra.

A furious Mamata Banerjee was heard railing at Planning commissioner Montek Singh Aluwahlia after the incident, and threatened never to visit Delhi if her security could not be assured.

At a press conference held after the meeting, she told journalists that the agitators had tried to attack her with an iron rod, and called the incident a ‘breakdown of the Indian constitution’.

Times Now reported that the Prime Minister had personally called her last evening and inquired after her well being. He had also reportedly assured her that he had directed the concerned department to increase her security for the duration of her visit to Delhi.

The incident triggered angry protests in West Bengal on Tuesday, and a number of CPI(M) and SFI offices had reportedly been attacked across the state.

The TMC has denied being responsible for the protests in West Bengal, calling it a “natural reaction of the people”.

The party has announced meanwhile, that they will be holding nationwide protests today, and will also take out a protest rally to Alimuddin street in Kolkata. One TMC member told Times Now that they want an explanation from the Centre, the identification and arrest of the people who tried to attack Mamata, and her safe return to West Bengal.

The TMC has also threatened to disrupt Parliament, when it resumes, over the incident.

Mamata Banerjee also appealed to her party workers to maintain peace. The Hindustan Times quoted her as saying, “Don’t be provoked by CPM.”