Kolkata, July 16 (IANS) The Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) has decided to organise a separate Martyrs’ Day programme in Kolkata on July 21 to commemorate the 13 people who were killed during a demonstration in the city in 1993.

NCPI leader Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar said on Thursday that paying tribute to the martyrs was a collective responsibility.

“Martyrs belong to everyone. Those who died in the freedom struggle are martyrs. And those who gave their lives for the sake of maintaining law and order in West Bengal are also martyrs. Therefore, it is our duty to honour them. The incident happened before my eyes. We will fulfil it as it is our duty to honour all the martyrs of the world,” said Dastidar.

Till last year, the Trinamool Congress held its annual ‘Martyrs’ Day’ rally in Kolkata on July 21 in one big event in front of Victoria House in the Esplanade area of central Kolkata. A public meeting was held 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.

However, after the split in the Trinamool Congress following its defeat in the state Assembly elections, a tug of war began between the ‘original but minority’ faction of Trinamool Congress led by Mamata Banerjee and the ‘rebel but majority’ faction of Trinamool Congress led by Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Ritabrata Banerjee, has been going on to hold the Martyrs Day programme.

After Kolkata police denied permission to hold the programme in its original venue (Victoria House), both Trinamool Congress factions are organising their separate events at alternative locations, after getting a go-ahead from the Calcutta High Court.

While Ritabrata Banerjee’s rebel camp has already started preparations on Mayo Road, Mamata Banerjee’s camp also received permission to hold a meeting in front of Birla Planetarium in the Maidan area.

Now the Lok Sabha MPs who left the Trinamool Congress after the Assembly elections and joined the NCPI have decided to hold their separate event in Kolkata on that day.

At the same time, the Indian National Congress will also hold its own event over the issue. Hence, there will be four Martyrs Day programmes in Kolkata on July 21.

Trinamool MP from Krishnanagar Mahua Moitra took a dig at NCPI and said, “What will NCPI do? Will these twenty MPs be in Bengal on that day? I am asking them. Or will they also do it in a new place if they get permission, because the MPs have said they are not with the rebel Trinamool MLAs. NCPI is not part of the Ritabrata camp. Then they will have to take another permission. The people of Bengal are watching a strange circus. Our position is the same. We are where we were.”

–IANS

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