Trinamool blows hot,scuttles Youth Cong rally

The district Youth Congress had organised Monday’s rally to prepare the ground for AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi’s proposed visit to the state.

In view of the coming Assembly polls,Gandhi has instructed the party to strengthen the organisation at the grassroot level,said Manik Bhowmik,district president of the Congress. For this special initiative,Usha Naidu was sent. She was scheduled to address the party workers at Janka in Khejuri.

On Monday morning,Naidu had addressed the party workers at Heria,East Midnapore. At 11.30,when she was on way to Khejuri,she found hundreds of TMC supporters obstructing the road at Niyamore,15 kms from the spot scheduled for the meeting. They heckled the Congress leaders and damaged the vehicles carrying Naidu.

According to Bhowmik,the Trinamool men demanded that the Congress seek permission from the party’s local MP,Sisir Adhikary,for the meeting. They claimed only the Trinamool has the right to organise meetings at Khejuri,as they captured it from CPM through bloodshed and severe political struggle.

Dilip Maity,a Youth Congress activist,was also abducted by the Trinamool supporters,but was rescued by police later,he said.

Denying the involvement of Trinamool cadres,Suvendu Adhikary,the party parliamentarian from Tamluk,said local hooligans were responsible for the day’s incident. Naidu has organised meetings in various parts of the state earlier but she has met no opposition,he pointed out.

The Youth Congress leaders later lodged a complaint with police and a hunt is on for the culprits.

Admitting that TMC activists had held a roadblock to prevent Naidu from entering Khejuri,Ashoke Biswas,Superintendent of Police,East Midnapore,however,said no vehicle was damaged.