Kolkata: In her first public appearance after she was allegedly attacked by some people in Nandigram earlier this week, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is conducting a roadshow on a wheelchair from Gandhi Murti to Hazra in Kolkata.
She will address a public rally at Hazra this afternoon.
On March 10, the Chief Minister, who was on a two-day visit to Nandigram from where she filed her nomination, alleged that she was pushed by a few unidentified people during her election campaigning. Later, she was brought to Kolkata's SSKM Hospital by road from Nandigram.
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Banerjee sustained "severe bone injuries" on her left foot and ankle as well as bruises and injuries on her shoulder, forearm and neck, according to the report of her initial medical examination. The Chief Minister was discharged from the hospital on March 12.
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Elections to 294-member West Bengal Assembly will be held in eight phases starting from March 27 with the final round of voting taking place on April 29. The counting of votes will take place on May 2.
Mamata, who is contesting the assembly poll from Nandigram, said she has chosen to fight "anti-Bengal forces" in the constituency as a mark of respect to the martyrs.
Paying tributes to the agitators who were killed in police firing in Nandigram in 2007, Banerjee said that farmers are the pride of West Bengal and the state government is working tirelessly for their development.
The TMC chief is pitted against former lieutenant and BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari in Nandigram seat.
"On this day, in 2007, innocent villagers were killed in firing at #Nandigram. Many bodies could not be found. It was a dark chapter in the history of the state. Heartfelt tribute to all those who lost their lives," Banerjee tweeted.
The TMC observes March 14 as 'Nandigram Divas' to pay respect to the 14 people who were killed in police firing on this day during an anti-land acquisition stir in 2007. The incident had sparked a national outrage and the Calcutta High Court had suo motu ordered a CBI probe.
"In memory of those who lost their lives in #Nandigram, we observe March 14 as #KrishakDibas every year and give away the #KrishakRatna awards. Farmers are our pride and our government is working for their all-round development," she said in another Twitter post.
Banerjee said it is an honour for her to work along with the martyrs' families in Nandigram.
"As a mark of respect and encouraged by my brothers and sisters of Nandigram, I am contesting #BengalElections2021 as @AITCofficial candidate from this historic place. It is my great honour to be here and work along with members of Shaheed families against anti-Bengal forces," she said.
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Banerjee, then the opposition TMC leader, had spearheaded a movement against the Left Front government's acquisition of arable land in Nandigram and Singur for industrialisation.
Her party reaped rich dividends from the agitations, winning 50 per cent of the panchayat seats in 2008, bagging 19 Lok Sabha seats in 2009 and ending the 34-year-long Left Front rule in the state in 2011.
(With inputs from agencies)
