New Delhi:

Mamata Banerjee’s party has alleged that its MPs and state cabinet leaders were “manhandled and mercilessly dragged” away by cops on Day 2 of their Delhi protest over central funds. 

The Trinamool Congress, which was holding a dharna at the Union Rural Development Ministry, claimed that the Minister of State Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti refused to meet them saying she would not meet more than five representatives.

The Trinamool leaders, who had brought with them bundles of letters addressed to the Prime Minister and the Rural Development Minister, refused to leave till the Minister met them. 

Led by Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee, a group of party MPs, state cabinet ministers sat on a dharna, which was continuing till 9 pm.

At this point, claims the party, the police broke up the protest and detained several leaders. 

“Ek MP ke saath aisa kar rahe hai aap log (You are doing this to an MP),” said MP Mahua Moitra as she was scooped up by women cops and dragged away.  

The ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal has accused the BJP-led NDA government of withholding Rs 15,000 crore in dues to the state under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and PM Awas Yojana.

The BJP has rejected the charge and accused the Trinamool of doing a “drama” in Delhi to divert attention from the scams in West Bengal.