WB Assy Opposition leader arrested while demonstrating

Kolkata, Dec 26 (UNI) Altogether 42 Trinamool Congress activists, including Opposition Leader in the West Bengal Assembly Partha Chatterjee, were arrested while demonstrating in front of the state Secretariat in protest against the state government's ''inaction'' in resolving the impasse over the Singur issue following party chief Mamata Banerjee's hunger strike.

Senior Trinamool leaders Saugata Ray and Sovandeb Chattopadhyay were among others arrested during the demonstration.

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee was in his chamber when the incident took place shortly after BJP President Rajnath Singh spoke from Ms Banerjee's dharna manch, declaring his party's full support to the Trinamool chief's ''struggle''.

Holding placards and shouting slogans, the Trinamool supporters suddenly appeared in the prohibited area taking the police by surprise. Though police closed the gate, the demonstrators tried to surge ahead, leading to a scuffle. However, police managed to arrest all of them.

During the demonstration, Mr Saugata Ray alleged that the Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee Government was pushing Ms Banerjee to death by remaining silent on the Trinamool leader's demand. '' Our protest is against the silence the Government is maintaining since the last time it contacted the party leadership five days ago. Our leader demanded that the Government give back the land which had been forcibly acquired from farmers. But so far, there has been no positive step from the Government,'' he said.

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