CPI-M on confrontation course with Banerjee over rally

A standoff is brewing between the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government and the main opposition CPI-M over the administration's refusal to allow the Marxists to hold a public meeting at the very spot in north Kolkata where Banerjee had addressed the people last week.

The Communist Party of India-Marxist had earlier announced that it would hold the meeting at Shyambazar five point crossing Tuesday to give a "befitting response" to Banerjee, who at a rally May 2 had accused the Marxists of hobnobbing with chit fund owners.

"We had earlier sought permission from the police to hold the meeting on Wednesday. But the police told us to hold the meeting Tuesday. But yesterday (Sunday) we were told that permission cannot be given due to a scheduled programme of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation," said CPI-M leader Manab Mukherjee.

However, the CPI-M leader said that his party was determined to hold the meeting at the same venue, irrespective of whether it secured police permission.

"We will hold the meeting at that very spot, with or without police permission," he said.