As Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee stayed put overnight at the state secretariat over army's presence at toll plazas in West Bengal, her TMC MLAs and ministers staged a dharna outside the Raj Bhavan protesting the "dictatorial tendencies" of the central government.
More than 150 MLAs and ministers marched to the Raj Bhavan from state assembly to submit to Governor K N Tripathi a memorandum against the "ill motives of the central government" and demanding immediate withdrawal of the army personnel.
They sat outside the Raj Bhavan with placards and posters criticising the Narendra Modi government besides raising slogans like 'Modi haaye haaye' and 'Modi should go'.
The group could not, however, meet Governor K N Tripathi as he is in New Delhi.
Alleging that the Centre is trying to topple the state government as TMC has raised its voice against demonetisation, Bengal Parliamentary Affairs Minister Partha Chatterjee said, "Today we came here to protest against the dictatorial tendencies of the central government, which is trying to finish off the federal structure in the country. The state government in Bengal has been democratically-elected and that too with a huge mandate.
"The people of this country will give a befitting reply to the dictatorial tendencies. A conspiracy is being hatched to topple a democratically-elected government. People will give the reply whether they want an army coup or federally- elected government," he said.
TMC, he said, would go to Raj Bhavan again tomorrow to meet the governor and lodge its complaints. "We contacted him (Tripathi) over telephone. He told us that he has read about the incident in newspapers. He has asked us to come tomorrow."
After a high drama over "deployment of army" at certain toll plazas in West Bengal without informing the state government, Banerjee stayed put at the state secretariat overnight.
Army on its part strongly rebutted Banerjee's allegations and said the exercise was being carried out in coordination with Kolkata Police.
Asked to comment on the Army's statement, Chatterjee quipped, "There is difference between informing and getting permission."
Earlier in the day, Tripathi told PTI when contacted, "I have read about it newspapers. Army has already given a clarification. I have nothing more to say."
Asked to comment on Banerjee's allegation of "army coup", Tripathi said, "It is the chief minister's view. I have nothing more to say."
Today was the first day of winter session of the state assembly and Chatterjee had wanted to raise and discuss the issue in the house. However, Speaker Biman Banerjee stopped him, saying that in order to raise and discuss an issue on the floor of the assembly it has to be first discussed in the Business Advisory committee of the house.
Reports from Jalpaiguri said TMC workers held day-long protest outside the Army camp at Binnaguri too.
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