Victims’ families laud Mamata

“Several political leaders,including then chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee visited me after my son was murdered. Everybody said that they would look into the death of my son. But it was Mamata Banerjee who kept her words,” she said.

Jahan was among 300-odd family members of a total of 367 victims of political violence who attended the rally.

Before starting her speech,Banerjee invited Kiswan Jahan on stage. Addressing Kiswar Jahan as ‘Amma’,Banerjee said,“In every sphere of my political career,I get inspiration from the sacrifice of our martyrs. I will not forget them ever.”

Banerjee had nominated Rukbanur Rahaman,elder son of Kiswar Jahan,for an Assembly seat and he is now an elected representative.

“I have given jobs to at least one member of all martyr’s families. As of now,I have arranged jobs for 12 out of 13 martyrs of the July 21 (killings). One victim’s family member could not be given job as there was a problem with his age. But he will be absorbed soon. I have also arranged jobs for the Nanoor and Nandigram victims,” said Banerjee.

Banerjee also invited Asiya Bibi,the mother of Nurul Islam,a “martyr” of the food movement of 1967,on stage.

Nurul Islam,the face of the Left movement in the state for long,was actually not among those who died in police action on August 31,1959. The 12-year-old fell to a police bullet seven years later in his hometown Basirhat while participating in a protest against food crisis.

Asiya Bibi accused the CPM of backing out on promises it had made after her elder son’s death. Asiya Bibi shifted from CPM to TMC in 2009. “CPM leaders had promised me a house and a job. I had attended a lot of rallies organised by the CPM but I snapped my links with the party after it failed to keep any of its promises. I joined TMC and my daughter Mamata kept her promises,” 85-year-old Asiya Bibi said on the sidelines of the rally.

Seven-year-old Payel Bag also hogged the limelight after Banerjee took her on stage and announced,“Eke valo kare dekhun. Mane porche? E hochhe Payel. Sei Payel je,janmanor 2 years pore jail e gechilo.” (See this child properly. Can you remember her? She is Payel,who was arrested when she was 2 years old.).”

Payel,daughter of Arun and Krishna Nag,a farmer family,was arrested from Singur and charged for violating section 144 CrPC. She spent four days in prison in 2007.

Special buses and special vehicles were arranged for the families of political victims.

Sisir Adhikari,Union Minister of State said,“Didi categorically told us to take special care of all the victim families. We arranged special buses from them and they were taken to a separate stage.”