Mamata stages dharna to protest EC’s 24-hr ban on her campaigning
   Date :14-Apr-2021
KOLKATA :
 
WEST Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday sat on a dharna in the heart of the city to protest against the Election Commission’s “unconstitutional” decision to ban her from campaigning for 24 hours. Banerjee, still confined to a wheelchair owing to the injuries she sustained last month, arrived at Mayo road here around 11.40 am and began her sit-in next to a Mahatma Gandhi’s statue at the venue. No TMC leaders or supporters were spotted nearby. A senior TMC leader, when approached, said, “No party leaders are allowed near the site of the protest. She is sitting there alone.”
 

Mamata stages dharna _1&n 
 West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on a wheel-chair, stages a protest after EC imposed a 24-hour campaigning ban on her, in front of Gandhi statue in Kolkata on Tuesday. (PTI)
 
The Election Commission has barred Banerjee from campaigning for 24 hours from Monday 8 pm for her remarks against central forces and a statement which had alleged religious overtones. Meanwhile, a defence official here said that the area where Banerjee is staging a protest belongs to the Army, and the TMC was yet to receive permission for the programme.
 
“Just to keep everyone informed, we have received an application from the TMC for a no-objection certificate at 9:40 am. It is still under process,” the defence spokesperson said. Meanwhile, during her dharna , Mamata took to canvas and made colourful paintings. She produced at least two paintings while sitting on her wheelchair.