A MIFFED TMC DECIDES TO TAKE THE BUS TO DELHI

TMC number two Abhishek Banerjee is slated to lead the protests in Delhi in the absence of Mamata Banerjee.

- SUPROTIM MUKHERJEE

Fuming against the BJP government for cancelling a train that was to ferry Trinamool Congress supporters to New Delhi for a dharna to demand payment of pending dues, defiant TMC leaders sounded a "Chalo Delhi" call and despatched their supporters in buses instead, but warned that they apprehended trouble when the convoy was to pass through Uttar Pradesh. As per revised plans, the party plans to ferry about 4,000 supporters and MNREGA job card holders and Prime Minister's Awas Yojana beneficiaries in about 50 buses and private cars.

As per the original plan, the TMC protest would begin at Raj Ghat on 2 October, Gandhi Jayanti, and then move on to Krishi Bhawan, housing the Rural Development Ministry which governs the MNREGA.

Now, with TMC flagging off the buses carrying the protesters from the afternoon, it is a race against time. Party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said: "We are sending our brothers and sisters by bus to New Delhi since the BJP government, out of fear, refused our booking of a special train. However, our party leaders who are with the convoy have been asked to be on full alert when the buses pass through Uttar Pradesh. We have not forgotten what happened in Godhra when Narendra Modi was Gujarat's Chief Minister. Yogi Adityanath is no different."

Sources said that policemen in mufti are also part of the convoy and a constant vigil would be maintained and hourly progress reports would be sent to the police and West Bengal administration after the convoy crossed Bengal's borders.