As the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) waged statewide protests in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday issued a stark warning.
“If Bengal burns, the fire will also reach Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Delhi,” said Mamata amid criticism as allegations of use of excessive force by her police during the two days of protests mount.
The BJP called for a 12-hour strike across West Bengal on Tuesday and carried out demonstration in protest against yesterday’s use of force against demonstrators who were marching to the state secretariat in a protest related to the rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata. The police had used water cannon and tear canon on the demonstrators in addition to baton-charging them.
BJP slams Mamata’s ’threat’
Following Mamata’s warning, the BJP lodged a strong protest. BJP state chief Sukanta Majumdar wrote a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and dubbed Mamata’s comments as “anti-national” and said she was threatening violence across the states.
Citing her remarks in the letter, Majumdar wrote that Mamata was endorsing revenge tactics.
“This isn’t the voice of someone holding a constitutional position; it’s the voice of an anti-national. Her statement is a clear attempt to threaten, incite violence, and sow hatred among the people. She no longer deserves to hold such an important position. She must resign immediately. It is the fundamental duty of every public servant, especially someone in a position of such high authority, to promote peace and discourage any form of violence. The Chief Minister’s stance during the meeting is alarming and undermines the safety and security of the citizens of West Bengal and the integrity of the state,” said Majumdar.
Separately, the BJP also alleged that Mamata’s Trinamool Congress (TMC) cadres attacked BJP leaders and workers during the protests earlier in the day. BJP leader and West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari shared a video in which a man appears to be firing at the car from which the video was being made. He alleged that the purported shooter was a TMC worker firing at the car of fellow party leader Priyangu Pandey.
“TMC goon opening fire on eminent BJP Leader Priyangu Pandey’s vehicle at Bhatpara. The driver of the vehicle is shot. This is how Mamata Banerjee & TMC are trying to force BJP off the street. (sic),” said Adhikari in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Separately, Adhikari also alleged that BJP leaders and cadres were also at the receiving end of excessive force of police.
Sharing photos of injured persons on X, Adhikari wrote, “Bharatiya Janata Party member Diptarup Mandal, Yuva Morcha General Secretary Abhik Mandal and other Karyakartas have been seriously injured in the brutal attack by TMC goons and Mamata Police at Ballavpur; Asansol South Assembly Constituency.Brute force is being unleashed to attack peaceful demonstrators and agitators. Police brutality is official recognition of the success of the state wide Bandh. (sic)”
In a separate post on X, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma slammed Mamata for her marks.
“Didi, how are you threaten Assam? Don’t show us your angry eyes. Don’t try to burn India with your politics of failure. It does not suit you to speak divisive language,” said Biswa in a post in Hindi.
Mamata salutes the police, fires shots at BJP
Even as the BJP alleged brutality at the hands of the police a day after police launched water cannons at marching people, Mamata “saluted” the police and slammed the BJP.
“We don’t support this bandh. BJP never demanded the resignations of the CMs of UP, MP and even Manipur. We saw pictures from yesterday (Nabanna Abhiyan rally), I salute the police for handling the situation well,” said Mamata, as per The Times of India.
Mamata went on to say that her government will pass a law mandating death penalty for rape within 10 days and will lead protests if the governor would not approve those laws.
“Next week, we will call an Assembly session and pass a Bill within 10 days to ensure capital punishment for rapists. We will send this Bill to the Governor. If he doesn’t pass the bill, we will sit outside Raj Bhavan. This Bill must be passed and he cannot evade accountability this time,” said Mamata, as per ToI.
Separately, Mamata nephew Abhishek Banerjee said that he will lead protests in Delhi if the Centre does bring in harsher laws soon.
“If a time-bound legislation pertaining to the crimes against women is not passed by the Centre in the next 3-4 months, then Trinamool Congress will hold a big movement in Delhi,” said Abhishek, as per the newspaper.
Separately, Mamata also said that the BJP was trying to “defame” the state with the protests.
“They have lost all the seats that were previously theirs, and now they resort to divisive politics,” said Mamata, as per Times Now.
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