A fresh round of tug of war between the BJP and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee erupted on Thursday with the latter asserting that she will not allow implementation of the CAA, NRC and the Uniform Civil Code in the state. While the BJP accused Mamata of resorting to vote bank politics on the occasion of Eid and trying to polarise the society.
The ruling party at the Centre accused the TMC supremo from deviating from core issues like economic upliftment of all communities but instead, she attempted to “sow the seeds of division” among people.
Addressing a gathering at the Red Road on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, the TMC supremo claimed that some people will try to “engineer riots” during elections and urged those who participated in the programme “not to fall prey to the plot”.
“We will not accept the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, National Register of Citizens and Uniform Civil Code. We will not accept any forcible implementation of these. I do not know how to hate people. I do not deliver hate speeches. I want everybody to live like brothers, in peace and harmony. If we will live unitedly, nobody will be able to cause harm to us. Do not let anybody break this unity,” Banerjee said.
“Till I am alive, nobody will be able to cause harm to you. I will keep fighting them. I have learnt from you people not fearing death, but it’s the other way round. There will be people who will be trying to engineer riots in the name of religion. You keep your cool and we will not let them to succeed in initiating riots here,” Banerjee said.
In an apparent reference to the BJP, Banerjee alleged that with the elections closing in, the central government agencies are being “used” to scare the people, mainly the opposition leaders.
“A few people want that during this election to scare people in the name of agencies. Drive the CBI, ED, Income Tax, and NIA after them. I will tell them (BJP) to construct a jail and put everyone behind the bars. But will you be able to put the entire population of 130 crores in jail?, I am ready to give blood for the country, but not ready to allow this torture go on,” she said.
Banerjee without taking any name further alleged that at the moment when the election is around, a selected few Muslim leaders in the country were getting calls with offers. “Today, during this election time, you are selecting and calling chosen Muslim people asking them what they want... I tell you they do not want anything.” she elaborated.
Asserting that in Bengal, people are living in peace because there is brotherhood among different communities. “Remember your honesty has helped people in Bengal to stay in peace. Live in peace and it is our responsibility to look after your security and nobody will be able to torture you,” she said.
She asserted that her party TMC’s fight is against the BJP. “We are in West Bengal with your blessings. Remember it’s the TMC who is fighting against the BJP. We will decide about the INDIA bloc later. But in Bengal, please see that no vote goes to any other party,” she said. TMC national general secretary and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee accompanied her at the Eid meet.
BJP Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya said people wanted to hear the chief minister’s plan for the economic uplift of all communities but instead, she attempted to “sow the seeds of division” among people.
“Instead of spreading the message of amity, brotherhood among the Muslim brethren at the gathering on Red Road, the CM tried to sow the seeds of division and polarisation for her narrow vote bank politics,” Bhattacharya alleged.
The BJP leader said the chief minister should unveil a roadmap to develop West Bengal which belongs to all communities and improve their economic conditions.
“Instead of speaking about ways to stop the migration of youths, including Muslims, from Bengal to other states, she tried to pit one community against another ahead of other religious festivals. This is dangerous politics and we call upon people of the state not to fall prey to the machinations of TMC supremo,” the BJP state spokesperson said.
