TMC protests leader Saayoni's arrest outside MHA; Mamata to raise Tripura violence with Modi

New Delhi: A delegation of TMC MPs on Monday sat on a dharna outside the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) here over alleged police brutality and arrest of its youth leader in Tripura. The MPs also raised slogans against the home minister and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and demanded an appointment with Amit Shah. We want the home minister to listen to us. Both Shah and Modi need to answer for the violence that is happening in Tripura, said TMC leader Sukhendu Sekhar Ray. TMC MP Saugata Ray said the protests were also against the arrest of party’s youth leader Sayani Ghosh in Tripura. The party alleged “mayhem” in BJP-ruled Tripura as Ghosh was arrested by the police and accused of attempt to murder. Party chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she will be meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi during her visit to Delhi, and raise issues concerning enhancement of BSF jurisdiction as well as “widespread violence” in Tripura. Banerjee also said she may not join the dharna being staged by TMC MPs in protest against “attack on party workers” in Tripura, but will surely express solidarity with them. “The chief minister of Tripura (Biplab Deb) and his government are defying the SC’s directive. They have to reply to common people. I will appeal to the higher judiciary to act against his government as per law,” she said. Hitting out at Amit Shah, the TMC supremo said the Union home minister “is yet to show courtesy” and meet the TMC MPs, who had been seeking an audience with him over the violence in Tripura. “During my visit to Delhi, I will be meeting the prime minister. Apart from various state-related matters, I will be raising issues concerning the enhancement of BSF jurisdiction as well as Tripura violence,” she told reporters before leaving for Delhi. The Tripura Police on Sunday arrested actor-turned TMC leader Ghosh on charges of attempt to murder after she allegedly disrupted a meeting of state Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb by shouting Khela hobe (We will play) on Saturday night. Ghosh, the youth unit secretary of TMC West Bengal, was arrested after being called in for questioning in a police station in Agartala, a police official had said. The Supreme Court recently directed the Tripura Police to ensure that no political party is prevented from exercising its rights in accordance with the law for campaigning in a peaceful manner. The TMC has repeatedly alleged that its candidates were being prevented from campaigning by the ruling BJP supporters there.