Kolkata: In a bold political move, the West Bengal Congress has officially extended an invitation to Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee to attend its July 21 Martyrs Day programme. However, the unexpected invitation comes with a stinging condition. State Congress president Subhankar Sarkar has publicly asked the former Chief Minister to admit that her decision to leave the grand old party nearly three decades ago was a massive political mistake.
Addressing the media while reviewing preparations at the Shahid Minar venue in the city, Sarkar asserted that the historic 1993 movement was organized exclusively under the banner of the Youth Congress. He strongly urged Banerjee to recognize this historical reality and refrain from attempting to rewrite the legacy of the movement. On July 21, 1993, thirteen political workers tragically died in police firing during a massive Youth Congress rally led by Banerjee. She eventually quit the Congress in December 1997 to form the Trinamool Congress and has since observed the day with massive rallies as a grand display of her organizational strength.
Sarkar stated that a political leader who respects their own past earns much greater respect from the public. He boldly remarked that if Banerjee publicly admits her past political error and visits the Congress stage to pay homage to the martyrs, it would serve as a significant act of political atonement. He further added that the doors of the Congress stage remain open for everyone willing to genuinely pay their respects.
The provocative appeal from the Congress arrives at a time when the political landscape of West Bengal is witnessing unprecedented turbulence. After losing power in the recent Assembly elections, the Trinamool Congress is currently battling a severe internal rebellion. A massive breakaway faction led by rebel leader Ritabrata Banerjee is organizing a separate Martyrs Day observance near the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Esplanade. Meanwhile, the faction loyal to the former Chief Minister was denied police permission to hold their traditional gathering outside Victoria House, leading to an ongoing legal battle in court.
With the Trinamool Congress fighting crucial survival battles on multiple fronts, the Congress is aggressively trying to reclaim total ownership of the 1993 movement. The upcoming anniversary has now evolved into a fierce political contest over a deeply emotional historical legacy, signaling further dramatic realignments in state politics.