Source: The Sangai Express / PTI
Kolkata, November 10:
Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee today announced her resignation from the Lok Sabha in protest against the 'continuing bloodshed' at Nandigram and said her party would 'paralyse' West Bengal for an indefinite period from Monday.
Claiming that 200 persons were 'massacred' at Sonachura and Mahespur areas of Nandigram in the day as the CPI(M) attacked two processions of the Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee, a visibly agitated Banerjee, said "I am tendering my resignation in protest against the massacre." She claimed at a press conference here that the bodies of those killed were taken away to the CPI(M) stronghold of Khejuri by Marxist cadres, while those injured were not being allowed to be taken to hospital.
Stating that she found 'the politics of bloodshed' repugnant, Banerjee said that she was sending her resignation letter to "all concerned".
She said "it is no longer possible to carry on political activities in West Bengal under the oppressive, one-party rule of the CPI(M)." She, however, did not clarify to whom she had sent her resignation letter.
She also announced her party's plans to 'paralyse' Bengal for an indefinite period from Monday.
When asked whether she supported the strike called by the SUCI on Monday, she said "from now on, everyone will be together".
Banerjee said that she would leave for Nandigram later in the day but would not attempt to break the blockade by the CPI(M), "as it might lead to further violence.
Let the Centre decide how to lift the blockade".
Banerjee said that she has informed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Home minister Shivraj Patil that the 'state sponsored violence at Nandigram' has crossed all limits.
The firebrand Trinamool leader said "the CPI(M) has gone to the extent of saying that the Governor is inciting violence".
The TC supremo further said, "I know that the Congress-led UPA government has political compulsion since it is taking the support of the CPI(M) to run the coalition.
"But the UPA government has the compulsion to save the people of Nandigram, who are being killed and driven out of their homes in the name of re-capture of territory," she added.
Meanwhile, in a jolt to the ruling Left Front, West Bengal PWD minister and RSP leader Kshiti Goswami today decided not to continue in the Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee cabinet and sought his party's permission to resign over continuing violence in Nandigram.
"I want to resign because I cannot accept what is happening in Nandigram.
We have been deceived by the CPI(M).
One thing is being said, another thing is being done," Goswami told reporters here.
"According to our party rule, I have to tell my party that I want to resign and have sought our secretary's permission to do so," he said.
When asked what he would do if the RSP refused to accept his resignation, Goswami replied, "Let me see what the party does."
"I protested against violence which has been continuing for the last 10 months and the government had received enough time to act, but it was not sincere," the minister added.