Kolkata, June 27 (IANS) A tug-of-war has begun over the Trinamool Congress’ July 21 Martyrs’ Day programme in Kolkata. After the Mamata Banerjee faction sought permission from Kolkata Police to hold the event in the Esplanade area of central Kolkata on July 21, the rebel faction of the Trinamool Congress, led by Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly Ritabrata Banerjee, has also approached the police seeking permission to organise the same programme.

On Saturday evening, the rebel Trinamool Congress camp sent a letter to Kolkata Police in this regard. The rebel faction has now decided to observe the Martyrs’ Day programme, claiming to be the “real Trinamool Congress”.

Taking a dig at the Mamata Banerjee faction, the Chief Whip of the rebel Trinamool camp in the state Assembly, Akhruzzaman, said: “Those who cannot form a parliamentary party in the Assembly and do not have the numbers, will they observe July 21 again? We want to observe that day by bringing the families of martyrs. Until now, the real families of martyrs would have been lost in the crowd of heroes and heroines who annually graced the July 21 programme. This time, we want to pay our true respects to the families of the martyrs on that day.”

On Saturday, the Ritabrata Banerjee faction held a preparatory meeting for July 21 at a city hotel. About 50 former councillors of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) were also present.

After the meeting, Akhruzzaman said that they had written to the Kolkata Police Commissioner seeking permission to observe Martyrs’ Day at Esplanade on July 21. The development came hours after the Trinamool Congress led by Mamata Banerjee sought police permission with the same demand.

The Trinamool Congress holds its annual Martyrs’ Day rally in Kolkata on July 21.

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee addresses a public meeting during the event to commemorate the 13 people who were killed during a demonstration by the West Bengal Youth Congress — then led by Mamata Banerjee — on July 21, 1993.

When the Trinamool was in the Opposition during the Left Front era, large gatherings used to be held on July 21 at Mamata Banerjee’s call. But after a decade and a half in power, the Opposition Trinamool now appears to be in a state of disarray, with both factions staking a claim to the party’s Martyrs’ Day programme.

–IANS

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