Trinamool Congress team stopped at airport in Assam, calls it 'Super Emergency'

A TMC delegation of seven members including six MPs , who arrived at Silchar from Delhi to take stock of situation following the release of the NRC draft, was stopped at the airport by Assam police and restricted to the security lounge at the airport.

Bengal minister Firdad Hakim is scheduled to join the team soon as he would be flying from Kolkata. The TMC MPs claimed that they were manhandled by the police team who also snatched mobile phones, however, the local police stated that nobody could be allowed to violate the section 144, imposed on the area.

Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy said that the members would not leave the airport till they are allowed to enter the city. "If needed, we will sit at the airport for the whole night, but we will not return," said Roy.


A statement issued by the party said the team comprising six MPs, one state minister and 1 MLA were "illegally detained" though they were not breaking any law.

"They were beaten up. Senior MPs were pushed and shoved. Female MPs were manhandled. Is this democracy? This is Super Emergency , " it said.


Lashing out at the BJP government in Assam, Mamata Banerjee said, "Their masks have come out. Why they are so scared? We never did this. There were incidents in Bengal and BJP delegation came here. section 144 was imposed here too, but we allowed them to go. They tried to incite violence in some places, but we were patient."

She said it was "unfortunate" that her MPs were "heckled and assaulted" in Assam despite the assurance of the home minister.

TMC MP Nadimul Haque said the delegation was shown the order of section 144 imposed on the area and requested to go back. " This is a free country and citizens can move freely... Moreover, the order says that there can be any meeting and gathering. so, we told the police that we are not going to hold any meeting in the area. They were repeatedly requesting us to return taking the next flight" he said.

Haque further added that legal action would be initiated against Assam police for applying force to stop the team.

Later in the evening the TMC delegation left for the NIIT guest house.