“Won’t Bow Down”: On Wheelchair, Mamata Banerjee Holds Rally In Kolkata

Mamata Banerjee made the point with a rally in the heart of Kolkata.

Kolkata:

Leg in a cast and sitting on a wheelchair, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today declared that nothing will keep her from protecting the democratic rights of the people. The 66-year-old, whose leg was injured in Nandigram on Wednesday, made the point with a rally in the heart of Kolkata, rolling in her wheel chair along with hundreds of party workers and supporters.

“I am hurt and unwell, but my goal remains (remaining steadfast to her cause and people of Bengal). My body is full of bruises. I will continue to roam around Bengal on this wheelchair. If I go on bed rest, who will reach out to the people of Bengal?” she said.

“I will never bow down. Remember, a wounded tiger is extremely dangerous,” she added.

Appealing for peace, she said, “May the unholy powers be destroyed and the good prevail”.

Ms Banerjee sustained injuries on her leg during a visit to Nandigram on Wednesday, where she had gone to file her nomination papers.

Initially she said she was pushed by four or five people against her car and had the door shut on her at a time there was no police personnel around. But later, she said “I was greeting people from the car bonnet and a huge pressure came….and the car crushed my foot”.

Her party however, had written to the Election Commission, alleging that an attempt was made on her life “within 24 hours of the removal of the Bengal police chief” by the Election Commission without any consultation with the state government.

Today, the Commission — which had ordered an investigation into the matter — said there is no evidence that the Chief Minister came under attack. Calling it an accident, the Commission said the Chief Minister’s security protocol was flouted.

Mamata Banerjee, who has Z-Plus security, has to travel in a bullet-proof car, but she was not, the poll panel said. Instead, the security in-charge was sitting in the bullet-proof car, the Commission, adding that action to be taken against the security in-charge Mr Sahay.