In the wake of BJP’s impressive show in the Lok Sabha polls in the State, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has appealed to arch enemy CPI(M) and the Congress to unite with her against the “communal forces”.
The two parties have, however, rejected her proposal saying no one will like to mount a sinking boat.
Apprehending danger from the BJP in days to come, Mamata on Wednesday told the State Assembly about her fear of the saffron party altering the Constitution of India.
“Hence there is a need to unite against the communal forces,” she said, and went on to explain her points. “I have fear that the BJP may go on to change the Constitution of India and for this purpose I think there is a need for all the Left and secular forces like the CPI(M) and the Congress to join hands and thwart the BJP’s advance in Bengal and India.”
On her mysterious silence about the Rafale deal which the Congress had made a prime election plank, Mamata said she did not have enough evidence so as to raise the issue. She said, “I was silent on Rafael issue because I did not have the documents with me. This does not mean that I opposed the Congress.”
About the Left, she said though her party has ideological differences with the Marxists, she respects them.
“I have personal respect for many Left leaders who had done a good job for the betterment of the poor. I am aware of their secular credentials. I am ready to work with them and invite them and the Congress to work together with us to stop BJP from advancing further.”
Accusing the BJP of running a parallel Government in Bengal for four months by using the Election Commission, Mamata said the saffron outfit had paralysed the administration in the State even after the result of the elections were out.
“They have stoked violence throughout the State,” she said adding, “how eight out of 10 people who were murdered after the elections belonged to the Trinamool Congress.”
Speaking about the threat of encounter death issued by the BJP leaders of Bengal — when they come to power —Mamata wondered why the police didn’t arrest the leaders “speaking like rogues.”
Meanwhile, rejecting Mamata’s appeal for a united fight against the BJP, CPI(M) central committee member and Left legislative party leader Sujan Chakrabarty said, “Mamata Banerjee is daydreaming about an alliance with the Left which will never mount a sinking boat.
Soon her party will obliterate from Bengal and the Left will get back its voters who have gone away to BJP because of the torture they faced at the hands of the TMC, added Chakrabarty.
Congress Assembly party leader Abdul Mannan said, “First Mamata Banerjee should publicly apologise for bringing BJP in Bengal and tell the people that she had done a great wrong by actively decimating the Left and the Congress and replacing them by the BJP. She should also accept her sin of living with the BJP for 9-10 years and then only we shall think over her suggestion.”
