TMC supporter held for asking 'Where's CM?'

Kolkata, March 18: The intolerant attitude of the

administration was revealed yet again on Sunday, this time at Mahestala where a man was

for asking state minister Firhad Hakim about the chief minister's whereabouts after Hakim had visited the slum which was destroyed in a devastating fire on early Saturday morning.

A report published in Bengali daily Anandabazaar Patrika on Monday said the man, Pratap Nashkar, a local resident, had asked the urban development minister about Banerjee out of curiosity when he ordered the police to nab Nashkar. Later, it was found that Nashkar was a supporter of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) itself and the minister had thought him to be a member of the opposition party.

In August last year, a farmer in Belpahari in West Midnapore district was arrested as a 'Maoist' after he asked Banerjee about the rising price of fertilisers while she was addressing a rally there. He was jailed for intruding into a high-security zone and was made to bear the brunt for 15 days. When asked about Nashkar's plight, the farmer, Shiladitya Chowdhury said it was not right to detain any person for asking a question.

What happened on Sunday? Hakim had gone to meet the victims of the fire and was assuring them of state help when Nashkar suddenly asked him: "Why didn't the chief minister come?"

According to the report, the sudden question surprised all who were present on the spot. The minister counter asked: "Who are you?" At this time, a councillor told the minister that Nashkar was an outsider and asked the police to take him away and interrogate what was he doing there. The minister backed him.

Nashkar was taken away for interrogation where it got revealed that he was a supporter of the TMC. He had gone to meet Hakim and asked him about the CM just out of curiosity. He was later released.

Hakim later said he did not know if Nashkar is a TMC supporter. He also said that even he is a party supporter, he should have been more careful. Nashkar later said that it was his mistake and Hakim also failed to recognise him.

OneIndia News