Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday sent a five-member parliamentary delegation of the Trinamul Congress to the protesting farmers on the Delhi borders to express solidarity with them on Kisan Divas and spoke over the phone to several agitating groups.
The delegates sent by the chief minister were Rajya Sabha members Derek O’Brien and Nadimul Haque, Satabdi Roy (Birbhum), Prasun Banerjee (Howrah) and Pratima Mondal (Joynagar). Sources in her party said Mamata had handpicked the members of the delegation, ensuring representation of minorities (Derek and Haque), Dalits (Mondal), women (Mondal and Roy) and upper castes (Banerjee).
Speaking to the Bengal chief minister over the speakerphone, a young Sikh farmer, identifying himself as Shankar, said her support meant a great deal to the movement against the controversial farm laws by the Centre.
“The scale of this farmers’ movement is unprecedented and it is unlikely that it will be matched in future, so it would mean a lot to us if the likes of you keep extending maximum support,” he said, to which Mamata reiterated her unconditional support to the cause.
“If you can contribute to our movement, it will infuse it with more power, more life. If you can pay us a visit here… it is our humble request. Right now, you are the most powerful woman in India, so we really need you here,” he added, to cheers from the MPs.
Mamata said: “We have been conducting our own movements here in your support.”
“Give me seven-eight days to figure out my schedule, as I have many programmes lined up here. But I will let you know,” she added, to applause from the audience.
Another elderly Sikh farmer from the movement said to Mamata: “Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Jains, Buddhists, all brothers and sisters of India, we have come together here, we sit here, we protest here, we eat here…. Together, we will make the (Narendra) Modi government bow. Because this Modi government has made our lives miserable,” he said.
“The central government works for only two people, (Mukesh) Ambani and (Gautam) Adani. For the common people of India, the Modi government has done nothing,” he added. “We know what you have been doing for the masses in Bengal. Your work is tremendous. We praise you all the time here. You have hit the BJP hard in the past and you will continue to do so. We want our sisters like you to come forward across the country, and work for the masses.”
Mamata has thrown her weight firmly behind the cause and her party has already carried out a slew of programmes this month, including a three-day dharna at the Gandhi statue on Mayo Road.