Kolkata,
(the states. news)
West Bengal Chief
Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday staged a sit-in near the Mahatma Gandhi
statue here to protest against the Election Commission’s decision barring her
from campaigning for 24 hours.
The ban, imposed on Monday for her alleged violation of the election code of
conduct, will end at 2000 hrs tonight.
Mr Banerjee will resume her electioneering with two rallies in North 24
Parganas for TMC candidates for 5th phase polling to be held on April 17.
The latest report said the Eastern High Command of the Indian Army is yet to
sanction the AITC permission for protest dharna as the area is under the Indian
Army.
Sources said the AITC’s application for the area permission reached the local
army headquarters only today in the morning.
Mamata Banerjee has decided to stage a sit-in protest in the Maidan under the
statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the central part of the city from 1200 hrs onwards.
Party sources said Ms Banerjee will begin her campaigning after the ban period
ends at 2000hrs. She would hold two public rallies in North 24 Parganas’
Barasat and Bidhannagar.
The poll body on Monday imposed a 24-hour ban on her campaigning from 2000 hrs
of April 12 for 24 hours for her alleged remarks against central armed forces
and a statement which had alleged religious overtones.
“Commission hereby condemns such statements potent with serious law and
order problems across the state (s) and sternly warns Mamata Banerjee and
advises her to desist from using such statements while making public utterances
during the period when the Model Code of Conduct is in force,” the order
said.
The EC action came after the Chief Minister was served two notices last week
for violating the model code of conduct. Ms Banerjee had allegedly appealed to
the Muslim community to vote for the TMC at a public meeting in Tarakeshwar.
(uni) (media saheb.com)
Mamata Banerjee protests against EC’s 24-hr campaign ban
