West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday asked her party supporters to maintain peace and not to do anything that would cause a problem to the public. Banerjee is presently undergoing treatment at the SSKM hospital in Kolkata with injury to her left leg, waist, shoulder, and neck, as per doctors. The TMC supremo had alleged on Wednesday evening that during her campaign in Nandigram, she was attacked by four-five men who pushed her, besides banging on her the door of her car, leading to the injuries.
The Trinamool Congress issued the over-a-minute-long video clip that was recorded at the special cabin number 12.5 of the Woodburn Block of SSKM Hospital where Banerjee is undergoing treatment after being injured during the election campaign in Nandigram. In the video message from the hospital, where she could be seen lying on the bed with a plastered leg, Mamata Banerjee said she will be back for the poll campaign in a few days and use a wheelchair if need be.
"This is my message to all my brothers and sisters and the common people. Yes, I was badly hurt yesterday and my hands and feet are still hurting. I suffered a ligament injury yesterday and have a headache and chest pain as well,” Mamata said in the video.
“I was standing on my car bonnet and saluting the crowd when suddenly I found my leg being crushed by the car door. After the injury, I took medicines and was rushed to Kolkata where the doctor examined me. I appeal to all my well-wishers to stay calm and maintain peace, and not inconvenience the public in any way. I hope I'm back in the field in 2-3 days. I'll still have a problem in my leg, but I'll manage. I'll continue to attend all meetings, but I will bound to a wheelchair going forward, for which I'll need your support,” she added.
দলনেত্রীর @MamataOfficial আবেদন pic.twitter.com/SPoD3m7Iu3
— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) March 11, 2021
Earlier on Thursday, in a tweet, the Trinamool Congress had also asked party leaders to maintain peace and not let their emotions overflow.
“We appeal to all our workers to not let their emotions overflow. We understand your concerns & we’ll keep updating about Hon’ble @MamataOfficial's health. We request to maintain peace & not resort to means which Didi would not approve of. Let us all pray for her speedy recovery,” TMC tweeted.
We appeal to all our workers to not let their emotions overflow. We understand your concerns & we’ll keep updating about Hon’ble @MamataOfficial's health. We request to maintain peace & not resort to means which Didi would not approve of. Let us all pray for her speedy recovery.
— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) March 11, 2021
The TMC has slammed the Election Commission for failing to provide proper security to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and said the EC can't shun responsibility as it is in charge of the law and order situation in the poll-bound West Bengal.
Claiming that the attack was a "deep-rooted conspiracy to take the life of TMC supremo", the TMC leaders said anti-social elements have been mobilised from the neighbouring states by the BJP in Nandigram to unleash violence.
Accusing the EC of acting "as per orders" of the BJP leaders, the TMC delegation, after meeting the EC officials in Kolkata, alleged that the "Election Commission did nothing despite there being reports of a possible attack on Banerjee."
A delegation of the BJP also met EC officials and demanded a thorough probe into the incident in which Banerjee got injured in Nandigram the previous day.
"The law and order situation in Bengal was good. But, after the announcement of elections, law and order become the responsibility of the EC. The EC removed DGP of the state police, and the very next day she was attacked," TMC secretary-general Partha Chatterjee said.
The Election Commission had on Tuesday ordered the removal of Virendra as Director-General of Police of the poll-bound West Bengal with immediate effect and appointed P Nirajnayan in his place.
Claiming that several comments by senior BJP leaders had dropped enough hints that Banerjee might be attacked, Chatterjee said "despite having those inputs the chief minister was left with no proper security".
"Who will take responsibility for the attack on Mamata Banerjee, when EC is in charge of administration? EC has to take responsibility for the incident. They are acting as per orders of the BJP leaders. The BJP is asking the EC to remove an official, and they are removing him," he said.