Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday hit the streets against the alleged manhandling of wrestlers in Delhi when they were trying to move towards new Parliament building on Sunday. The new parliament building was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday amid boycott by a large number of opposition parties.
Banerjee, who had on Tuesday criticized the alleged police attack on the wrestlers “who had brought fame to our country,” led a 2-km procession from Hazra Road in south Kolkata to Rabindra Sadan.
Players and functionaries of Kolkata’s big three clubs — Mohan Bagan Club, East Bengal Club and Mohammedan Sporting Club — took part in the rally. Iterating that the rally would continue on Thursday too Banerjee said, “We are with the wrestlers in their fight and so we have taken out this rally which will continue tomorrow also … Wrestlers are the pride of our country.” Wondering as to why the person who had been “accused of physical assault” on wrestlers was not being arrested Banerjee had said on Tuesday, that people (BJP leaders) who were busy in Puja Paath (worship) had forgotten that such holy activities suit only those people who worship humanity.
Banerjee, who has no love lost with the BJP Government is likely to attend the meeting of the opposition leaders this month in Patna. “I am with all those parties that oppose the BJP and will support them,” subject to conditions of reciprocation, Banerjee had said.