Khejuri flash point between Cong,Trinamool

The day after Trinamool cadres allegedly created a ruckus at a Congress rally held there,attacking Congress supporters and tearing down party flags,state Congress chief Manas Bhuniya used strong words censuring the party.

Alleging that the Trinamool was trying to have a one-party rule in Khejuri — something the CPM specialised in — he even sat in a dharna in front of the office of East Midnapore police superintendent,demanding arrest of the culprits.

The Congress leadership claimed that the party supporters were attacked by antisocial elements carrying Trinamool flags. The local Youth Congress leader Partha Das has been pressurised and beaten up by Trinamool supporters who wanted him to withdraw the FIR lodged against them.

“When I reached Khejuri,the organisers told us that our banners and flags have been torn,” Bhuniya said. “At Khejuri,there is no Krishak Sabha,no CITU,no DYFI and no SFI. So who are the people with Trinamool flags?”

Bhuniya said he has urged Trinamool leaders to take note of the “gunwanted elements” who have joined the party.

The incident,he added,reminded him of another one 11 years ago,when he was gheraoed for six hours by CPM supporters in Khejuri. “We have seen this situation under CPM for 33 years and protested against it. We will not be mute spectators,” he said.

Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee,however,refused to comment on the Congress allegation. “I can comment only on my own party and not another,” she said.

Congress supporters stopped traffic and rail at various places. Train services were disrupted in North 24 Parganas in Bongaon and Basirhat sections. Chhatra Parishad activists stopped traffic at the Moulali crossing and gheroed Muchipara police station. The Congress leadership described the disruption as a spontaneous protest over the Khejuri episode.

On July 12,Trinamool supporters had stopped Usha Naidu,the secretary of All India Youth Congress,from addressing a rally at Khejuri. Thereafter,the Congress had announced that it would organise a rally in Khejuri on July 24.

On Sunday,Bhuniya announced that the Congress will hold a rally at Tamluk,the headquarters of East Midnapore,on August 9.

While he underscored that this was a stray incident and will not affect the coalition,CPM Central Committee member Md Selim said: “Congress has now got a taste of how undemocratic the Trinamool can be.”