CPIM blames Mamata Banerjee government for allowing RSS arms rally

KOLKATA: A day before Mamata Banerjee's visit to Delhi, Bengal CPIM on Thursday held her government responsible for allowing the RSS to organise processions in different parts of Bengal in which women and children were seen displaying arms while taking part in Ramnavami rally on Wednesday.

Interestingly, the chief minister will leave Kolkata for Delhi on Friday to join a number of meetings in the capital. The possibility of a meeting between the prime minister Narendra Modi and Mamata is also not ruled out during the chief minister's stay in Delhi.

CPIM state secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra held a press conference on Thursday to blast at Mamata's government and alleged that her government was not allowing CPIM and other Left parties to hold political rallies in the state, but the state government was very soft to RSS and allowed the organisation to hold rallies with arms.

"The state government is also allowing the RSS to use school buildings and grounds to hold their arms training. Permission to the RSS for holding arms training was never granted during the 34-year regime of the Left Front government," Mishra informed.

The CPIM top leader also complained that " Trinamool Congress activists were seen in a number of rallies organised by the RSS and their affiliated organisations in different parts of the state. The CPIM political bureau member also alleged that Trinamool government had allowed the RSS rallies in the state on Wednesday and did not take any move to stop these gatherings despite our repeated reminders.

"In the name of religion, the RSS had used women and children to join their rallies with arms in their hands. Such happenings are unprecedented and does not match Bengal's political and social culture," Mishra said.

Expressing concern over Wednesday's RSS rallies across the state, Mishra said that "the role played by the police and administration to stop such rallies were very frustrating. I urge upon the chief minister to convene an all-party meeting to discuss the issue and find out ways and means to check such happenings."