Sharing the dais with the family members of those killed and injured during the March 14 police firing, the Trinamool chief, in a symbolic gesture, picked up a mound of soil in an earthen pot and touched it as a mark of respect to the dead. She said this marked the beginning of her campaign. Stressing on her alliance with the Congress, she said, “Pranab Mukherjee has sent Sukhendu Shekhar Roy, senior Congress leader, to share the dais with us. Together, we will drive the CPM out of Bengal.”

In his speech, Roy returned the compliment “We wanted the anti-CPM vote not to be divided. We will campaign and fight in a unified manner under the leadership of Banerjee. She is our leader,” said Roy.

“The entire world has come to know how atrocious and autocratic the CPM is and how the Marxists deprive the poor farmers and workers to appease the rich. We do not want a chemical hub, but a hub of humanity. We will not allow a chemical hub,” Banerjee added.

Daring the CPM-led Left Front government to try to “suppress democracy” as it did two years ago, the Trinamool chief said, “I would like to dedicate my party’s poll manifesto to the martyrs of Nandigram.” The manifesto would be released by the party in four to five days, she said.

“People who resisted in parting with their land faced the wrath of the police and the Marxists, who did not hesitate to shoot them down, assault them, rape women and inflict atrocities,” the Trinamool chief said.

... contd.