Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has announced her decision to join the protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar in support of students led by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP). Banerjee plans to participate in their sit-in on Monday.
During her Martyr’s Day speech at Kolkata’s Birla Planeterium on July 21, she had declared her support for the CJP and stated that she would join the protest in Delhi if necessary.
This marks her first involvement in a national-level protest since her party’s recent poll debacle in West Bengal.
The Congress, along with other opposition parties, have shown their support towards the student protesters. Recently, MPs from the INDIA bloc, led by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi held a sit-in protest outside the prime minister’s residence. The opposition leaders also held a sit-in at the Gandhi memorial site.
According to party insiders, Banerjee has urged her MP’s to extend their support to the students’ movement on several occasions.
Sources indicate that upon arriving in Delhi, Banerjee may engage in discussions with leaders of various opposition leaders, including senior Congress leaeder Sonia Gandhi, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav among others. Additionally, Banerjee is also expected to have a separate conversation with CJP chief Abhijeet Dipke.
Meanwhile, the situation at the national capital remains tense with the students’ protest regarding the NEET paper leak spilling over to other cities across the country. Nationwide protests are on, demanding the immediate resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.