FIR Registered Against Mamata Banerjee Over Alleged Communal Remarks During Dharmatala Protest

Mamata Banerjee faces a police probe over alleged inflammatory remarks as TMC's internal crisis deepens, with 19 rebel MPs set to seek recognition as the "real TMC" in Parliament.

Mamata Banerjee faces a police probe over alleged inflammatory remarks.

Source : PTI

A complaint has been filed against former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over allegedly inflammatory remarks made during a sit-in protest at Dharmatala.

According to reports, a businessman lodged the complaint, alleging that Banerjee's statement, "You are safe because we are here; if we weren't, a certain community would, in an instant..." a complaint has been filed citing these remarks as inflammatory. 

Based on the complaint, Hare Street Police Station has registered a case and launched an investigation into the matter.

This has become another blow for Mamata Banerjee after the rebel in the Trinamool Congress party since she lost the West Bengal assembly election and the chief minister throne. 

Dissident TMC Faction To Approach LS Speaker

The rebellion within the TMC intensified on Friday, with dissident MP Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia claiming that 19 Lok Sabha members have backed a breakaway faction that plans to seek recognition as the "real TMC" in Parliament.

Speaking to PTI Videos, Basunia, the MP from Cooch Behar and one of the leaders supporting alignment with the NDA in the Lok Sabha, said the rebel group has already submitted a representation to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and will meet him on Monday to press its claim.

"We have submitted the letter. On Monday, we will meet the Speaker and stake our claim to form the real TMC parliamentary group. We will request him to recognise our faction," Basunia said.

According to him, the signature campaign in support of the move began on June 8, and 19 MPs have signed the representation so far. Sources, however, said the timing of the proposed meeting with the Speaker has not yet been finalised.

Basunia also rejected allegations made by TMC MP Kirti Azad that dissident lawmakers were being induced to switch loyalties. "Kirti Azad is making false allegations. We are 19 MPs, and he is also an MP. Such statements are inappropriate," he said.

Backing senior TMC leader Kalyan Banerjee's recent criticism of party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, Basunia said, "Kalyan ji is saying the right thing. We support his statement."

TMC Crisis Deepens

The TMC has been grappling with an unprecedented internal crisis following its defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections. What began as unrest among party legislators has now spilled over into Parliament, where dissident MPs claim to have the support of more than 20 Lok Sabha members.

The turmoil deepened on Thursday when Rajya Sabha MP Prakash Chik Baraik resigned from both the party and the Upper House, becoming the third TMC parliamentarian to do so this week after Sukhendu Sekhar Ray and Sushmita Dev.

The crisis has also exposed sharp divisions within the party leadership. On Thursday, senior leader Kalyan Banerjee launched a scathing attack on Abhishek Banerjee and declared that he would remain in the party only if Abhishek was stripped of all leadership responsibilities.

Despite the growing rebellion, several senior TMC leaders have publicly reaffirmed their loyalty to party chief Mamata Banerjee. Lok Sabha MPs Sougata Roy, Shatrughan Sinha and Pratima Mondal, along with Rajya Sabha MP Babul Supriyo, have denied being part of any dissident camp and asserted that they will continue to stand with the party leadership.