Kolkata: Though migrants and martyrs were the underlying theme of the July 21 rally, the event also featured the elderly parents of Pahalgam terror attack victim Bitan Adhikari, and the father of slain jawan Jhantu Ali Sheikh. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee escorted both families to the dais on Monday, showing the crowd the “real victims of terrorism” and vowing to support the families.For Banerjee, the day began with a meeting with the families of the martyrs at her Kalighat home. As the CM walked up to the dais at 12.54 pm, she was seen holding on to Adhikari’s mother Maya (75) and and Sheikh’s father Sabur Ali (78). Adhikari’s father Bireshwar (80) walked next to Maya. On the dais, she welcomed them with shawls and handed them two packets containing financial aid of Rs 1 lakh each.“It was an emotional moment. The senior citizens started crying when they walked up to the dais,” said minister Chandrima Bhattacharya, who was seen giving up her front-row seat to the couple. Holding their hands, Banerjee said: “Before Abhishek (Banerjee) or I speak from the dais, it is time we pay homage to the other martyrs — Bitan Adhikari and Jhantu Ali Sheikh. Their families are here with us, and we are honouring them.” The CM then wrapped shawls around Maya, Bireshwar, and Sobuj Ali. Banerjee said her party colleagues contributed Re 1 each, and out of the accumulated money, Rs 1 lakh was paid to each of the two families. “I am handing over Rs 1 lakh to each family,” she said, offering the two white packets to them.A relative of the Adhikaris later told TOI that Behala East MLA Ratna Chatterjee had reached out to them and asked them to accompany her to the July 21 dais on Monday. “It was nothing political. The elderly couple went there just for the sake of love and respect shown towards their son. Hence, they agreed. We are grateful to the chief minister for the gesture,” said the relative.Sabur Ali Sheikh, who came to Esplanade from Tehatta by 9 am, said he was amazed by the CM’s courtesy. “She spotted me near the base of the dais and came forward to speak to me. She asked me ‘Bhai how are you?’ and then took me to the dais and offered an uttariya. She gave me sweets and asked me to give them to my grandchildren. She was caring and repeatedly asked me to contact her if I needed any help. The Tehatta police escorted me home,” he said.Also on the dais was Uttam Brajabashi, the 50-year-old member of the Rajbongshi community from Dinhata in Cooch Behar, who received a notice from a Foreigners’ Tribunal (FT) in Assam, accusing him of entering India from Bangladesh illegally — despite his claim of being born in Cooch Behar in 1975. Speaking to journalists on Sunday, Brajabashi said he never visited Assam before being summoned. “I was born in 1975. I am 50 years old now. I don’t have a birth certificate, but I’ve never left Cooch Behar,” he said. “I had to travel to Guwahati with a lawyer to attend the tribunal hearing. A Trinamool leader assured me that the party would stand by me and support my case.”
