SUCI, BJP call Bangla Bandhs on Nov 24 and 30

West Bengal is heading for two bandhs this month-end with Socialist Unity Centre today calling a 12-hour one on November 24 and the BJP on November 30.

The SUCI, a left opposition party, called its shutdown demanding immediate withdrawal of joint forces from Lalgarh, but ally Trinamool distanced itself from it.

"We demand withdrawal of joint forces. In the name of hunting down Maoists, atrocities are being committed on poor adivasis in West Midnapore district," SUCI State Committee member Swapan Ghosh told PTI here.

He said the "failure" of the Left Front government and the Centre to check price rise would also be highlighted during the bandh which was decided at a party meeting in New Delhi yesterday.

Trinamool Congress Secretary-General Partha Chatterjee described the call as a unilateral decision of the SUCI which could not be supported.

"We feel that a bandh should be used as the last weapon of protest," he said, adding, Trinamool Congress had already raised the issues being highlighted by SUCI.

The state BJP also called a 12-hour bandh in the state on November 30 to protest against price rise.

State BJP president Rahul Sinha said the Trinamool Congress and Left Front constituents were being approached to support it.