New Delhi, Sep 18 (PTI) Democracy is on a ventilator in West Bengal, the Congress said on Friday after its Nandigram bypoll candidate Milan Pradhan was arrested, and added that the BJP was converting India’s constitutional democracy into a “Banana Republic”.
Reacting sharply to the development, AICC general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal said that using a dormant 19-year-old case to arrest the Congress candidate is an indication that the BJP would go to any lengths to “hijack” democracy.
“Democracy is on a ventilator in BJP’s West Bengal. This is the BJP’s latest effort to ensure Opposition-Mukt Bharat, successfully converting our great constitutional democracy into a Banana Republic,” Venugopal said on X.
Pradhan was arrested on Friday for his alleged involvement in the 2007 anti-land acquisition movement in Nandigram, a senior party leader claimed.
Another party leader, Subhasish Bhattacharya, was also arrested for allegedly trying to prevent the police from apprehending Pradhan. He said his arrest was nothing but “a dirty game of the BJP”.
Pradhan, who has been named in more than 12 cases over the Nandigram land movement, was picked up from a hotel in Chandipur in Purba Medinipur district, the Congress leader said.
In his X post, Venugopal said, “Using a dormant 19-year old case from 2007 to arrest our candidate — minutes after Mamata Banerjee ji extended support — is a sign that BJP will go to any lengths to hijack democracy.” He said Congress is the party that fought the oppressive British rule and drove them away. “…these petty intimidation tactics by their cheap copycats are not going to scare us. We will stand tall against this misuse of power, and we will ensure the BJP’s defeat,” the Congress leader said.
Earlier in the day, former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had announced her party’s support for the Congress candidate in the October 6 Nandigram bypoll, hours after her candidate withdrew from the contest. PTI SKC 1.0.0 RUK RUK
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.