Mamata adds ‘apolitical’ prefix to Lalgarh rally

“We will organise the rally under the banner of Santrash Birodhi Mancha. I have come to know that there are many who want to go. I would urge everyone to join the rally. We would not hold it under the Trinamool Congress banner,” said Banerjee at her Kalighat residence.

She said the rally will be for peace and progress,and establishing democratic rights for the people in Lalgarh.

The tactical move of the Railway Minister is seen as an attempt to win the support of intellectuals and a section of those with ultra-Left ideologies. This move is expected to put pressure on the Left Front government which have denied permission to organise a rally in Lalgarh till now,citing security concerns.

A few days ago,a group of intellectuals had welcomed Banerjee’s decision to hold a rally in the heart of the Maoist-affected parts of Bengal. They also announced their plan to visit Lalgarh on August 15 to hoist a flag of ‘Independent Lalgarh’.

Banerjee today reiterated her determination to visit Lalgarh and said she

would visit the area despite all resistance.

Adequate security to be given to Mamata:Pranab

Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has said that adequate security will be provided to Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee,who had alleged that a conspiracy was being hatched by the CPM to eliminate her. “I have seen (her statement) in the newspapers. She is a Union minister. Of course,adequate security arrangements will be made,” Mukherjee told mediapersons in Kolkata.

Banerjee,who is determined to address a public meeting at Maoist-affected Lalgarh in West Midnapore district on August 9,alleged on Saturday that the CPM and some political parties with vested interests have plotted to eliminate her. According to Banerjee,the CPM has even discussed the idea of forming suicide squads to eliminate her. Earlier,Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had told the Assembly that his government was against holding of public rally in Lalgarh citing security concerns.