Kolkata, Aug 17 (IANS) Trinamool Congress MP Kirti Azad on Monday said that he has decided to apply for a licensed pistol for self-defence, in view of the frequent egg attacks on party leaders allegedly by cadres of the BJP.
Speaking to media persons, the Trinamool MP from Bardhaman-Durgapur constituency said: “Everyone has the right to self-defence. Given these circumstances, I am now forced to apply for arms licences to procure legal firearms for safety and security. I choose a pistol for protection. We too have the right to protect ourselves.”
On Monday, Kirti Azad went to his parliamentary constituency. While talking about his various plans for the parliamentary constituency, the member of the 1983 World Cup-winning Indian cricket team targeted the BJP. He said, “They stopped giving eggs in schools. Now people are being beaten with eggs. We are also taking a pistol license for our own protection.”
“We are not people to be afraid of. We played cricket for India. We played cricket for the dignity of Bharat Mata.”
He also targeted Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Ritabrata Banerjee, who leads the rebel faction of Trinamool MLAs. “We know what Ritabrata did, what he said on the phone, what he did under whose pressure.”
On Monday, the MP visited various places in his constituency. He said that he will hold a meeting with party members in the evening. He also has a programme on Tuesday. He said that after Durga Puja, his party will take to the streets again with a campaign.
The Trinamool MP targeted the new BJP government in West Bengal. “The situation in Bengal is very bad. There is no such situation even in Africa. There, pirates roam the sea. And here, pirates and robbers roam everywhere in the city, house, and street.”
In response to Kirti Azad’s firearms comment, BJP’s Durgapur Purba MLA Chandra Sekhar Banerjee said: “If he talks about keeping firearms, etc., we will take him across Bihar”. His reference was to Kirti Azad hailing from the neighbouring state.
After the change of government in the state following the Assembly election, a large number of Trinamool leaders, former ministers, and councillors were arrested by the police on various charges including extortion, assault, molestation, and intimidation. In most of the cases, angry people threw eggs on those leaders while they were being escorted by the police. In several instances, people chanted the “thieves” slogan while throwing eggs at the arrested Trinamool leaders. The practice of throwing eggs has been described as ‘egg therapy’ by the protesters.
–IANS
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