Farmers Movement Archive

Mamata assures support to protesting farmers

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday reached out to protesting farmers in Delhi and assured them support of her party and people of West Bengal. Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and national spokesperson Derek O’ Brien visited agitating farmers and connected them to Ms. Banerjee over telephone. “This is not only your movement; it is a movement of people and of the entire country. We are ready to provide all support from Bengal. If you want our people can also join the protest,” Ms. Banerjee is heard saying in the video shared by the TMC. She also told the protesting farmers that she had herself participated in a 26-day hunger strike in the interest of farmers during the Singur movement. Ms. Banerjee suggested that the farmers continue their protest as long as the agriculture Bills were not withdrawn. Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister had expressed solidarity with all farmers who are “protesting the draconian farm Bills passed by the Centre without consultation”. “14 years ago on 4 Dec 2006, I began my 26-day hunger strike in Kolkata demanding that agricultural land cannot be forcefully acquired. I express my solidarity with all farmers who are protesting against draconian farm bills passed without consultation by Centre,” Ms. Banerjee tweeted. The Trinamool Congress also held a press conference during the day extending support to farmers and highlighted the role of the party chairperson in the Singur and Nandigram movements . Later in the evening, the Chief Minister held a meeting with senior party leaders and district presidents where it was decided that the party would hit the streets in Kolkata in support of the protesting farmers from December 8 to 10.

The Hindu

2020-12-05

Kolkata