Congress to use minority development card against CM Mamata Banerjee

KOLKATA: After the CPM and Naxalites announced a series of movements, including gherao of the state administrative headquarters Nabanna, on August 10, Congress has decided to corner Mamata Banerjee's government on minority development. The minority cell of the state Congress will hold a convention here on August 19 which will be attended by top Congress leaders from Delhi.

Bengal Congress minority cell chief Khalid Ebadullah told ET on Tuesday that he will hold a meeting with AICC minority cell in Delhi on Thursday to finalise names of heavyweight Congress leaders from Delhi who will be attending a minority convention in Kolkata on August 19. "I have written to Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Manmohan Singh and Ghulam Nabi Azad and requested them to attend our convention here. On Thursday, I shall hold a meeting with AICC minority cell chief Khursheed Sayed Ahmed in Delhi when I may come to know names of our national leaders who will come to Kolkata on August 19," he said. It is learnt that the AICC minority cell has taken a special interest in helping the Bengal Congress unit to mount pressure on Mamata government on the minority issue before next year's Assembly elections. Ebadullah complained that Mamata's government had promised many thing for the minorities, but in reality, her government did nothing.

The chief minister recently held a meeting with Jamiat Ulema E Hind leader Siddiqullah Chowdhury for about two hours at Nabanna.After this, he took a U-turn and praised the government for working for minority people.