West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee joined the second day of the sit-in protest at Dharmatala on Saturday. She appeared on the stage along with Shashi Panja, Chandrima Bhattacharya and several members of the Trinamool Congress women’s wing. The Chief Minister had spent the entire night at the protest site as the demonstration continued.
During the protest, Banerjee announced a special protest march to be held on Sunday to mark International Women’s Day. The march will focus on two key issues: rising LPG prices and the alleged removal of women’s names from voter lists.
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The Trinamool Congress supremo urged women across the state to join the demonstration and protest peacefully. She called on women to carry household utensils such as pots and pans as a symbolic way to highlight the difficulties people are facing due to the rise in cooking gas prices.
Speaking about the voter list issue, Banerjee said that many women’s names were removed from the list after they changed their surnames following marriage. She questioned the authority behind such decisions and said women should have the freedom to choose their surname.
Banerjee also spoke about the impact of rising gas prices on households and urged women to take part in the protest.
“There is no gas, no food. Tomorrow, mothers and sisters should come out on the streets with pots, pans, bowls, water vessels and gas ovens to protest,” she said.
“This march is not meant to create unrest. It is only a peaceful protest,” she added.
She also asked participants to wear black sarees during the protest march, while she said she would wear a white saree.
CM questions 21-day LPG booking rule after price hike
Banerjee criticised the Centre over the recent LPG price hike. She alleged that the BJP is trying to divide Bengal and other states for political gain.
“The BJP is conspiring to divide Bengal. Wherever there is a double-engine government, they will carry out loot. They are even trying to divide Bihar,” she said. Referring to the LPG price increase, Banerjee questioned the rule requiring people to book gas cylinders 21 days in advance. She said, “They have increased the price of gas yesterday. At the same time, they are saying that gas has to be booked 21 days in advance. Tell me, what will people do during those 21 days? How will they cook? These things should have been thought about earlier."
