Mamata Banerjee defers 48-hour bandh

Kolkata, Dec 20 (UNI) Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee today announced her decision to defer the 48 hour Bangla Bandh from tomorrow in view of the Christmas celebrations.

Speaking to newspersons from her Dharna Manch here, where she has been on an indefinite fast for the past 17 days on the Singur issue, Ms Banerjee, who wrote another letter to Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacherjee this morning, announced her decision to defer the Trinamool Congress Bandh.

''I have decided to defer the 48-hour statewide bandh from tomorrow temporarily, keeping in mind the inconvenience it might create prior to the Christmas festive season,'' the visibly ailing Ms Banerjee said.

Earlier, Opposition leader of the State Assembly and senior Trinamool Congress leader Partha Chatterjee came to the state Secretariat at Writers' Building and handed over a sealed letter from her to the Special Secretary to the Chief Minister Bhaskar Layek.

When asked about the contents of the letter, he refused to comment and said whatever had to be said would be stated by MS Banerjee. He, however, did not meet the Chief Minister.

The Chief Minister, acknowledging the receipt of the letter, said he would send the reply to the Dharna Manch today.

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