Kolkata/UNI/IBNS: "Will not partake in Durga Puja festivities if we are not able to restore a smile to our people's faces. Governor must listen to people’s plight," asserted Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee continuing his dharna outside Raj Bhavan for the third consecutive day on Saturday.

"Yesterday, we announced that until the Governor meets our Trinamool delegation and answers questions pertaining to the release of dues of 20 lakh MGNREGA beneficiaries, we will continue our peaceful dharna here to fight for Bengal’s rights," Abhishek said.

"We got to know through reporters that Raj Bhavan issued a statement saying: Gherao Nahin, Ghar Aao. First of all, I would like to clarify that this is not a gherao, which happens at the gates. There are multiple gates to Raj Bhavan and we have not occupied any of those," he added.

"Second, how can I visit his ghar (house) when he is not present? How can someone who is not present at his own home invite me to it? If an invitation is extended, the invitee must be present. If I walk to Raj Bhavan, it will take me two minutes. But it would take him four hours to reach," he stated.

Abhishek, a Lok Sabha MP from West Bengal's Diamond Harbour constituency, has demanded the Governor to meet him and his delegate over the Centre's withholding of funds related to MGNREGA scheme.

The TMC MP said the dharna won't end until Bose, who was in Siliguri on Thursday, meets them.

Abhishek has claimed he was asked to reach Siliguri to meet the Governor within a few hours' time.

"We were asked to reach Siliguri within two or three hours! Our fight is against this Zamindari system," the young politician said.

On Thursday afternoon, Abhishek led the TMC delegation from Mohor Kunj to Raj Bhavan pressing for the demands of the release of central funds.

As the Governor was not present, the TMC delegation sat in dharna.