New Delhi: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of West Bengal has called for transparency regarding the investigations conducted by central teams in the state, demanding a white paper to be released. CM Banerjee on Tuesday said that PM Narendra Modi who accuses her TMC of corruption should look in the mirror first.
Hitting out at the BJP, CM Banerjee claimed that its leaders were ignorant about Bengalis, their culture, religious rituals and food habits, because of which they criticised eating fish.BJP had sent 300 central teams to Bengal to investigate the allegations of corruption but they didn’t find anything, reported news agency PTI.
"Now, PM Modi needs to answer the people of Bengal, what happened to the MGNREGA funds? Poor people worked under the scheme but were not paid". "The PM says TMC is a corrupt party. He should look in the mirror first. His party is filled with dacoits", she added.
Addressing an election rally in Mainaguri in support of TMC's candidate Nirmal Chandra Ray, CM Banerjee intensified her campaign against the BJP, highlighting key issues and drawing battle lines ahead of the polls. Criticising demonetisation, she questioned its beneficiaries and labeled the BJP as anti-Bengali, accusing it of targeting marginalized communities under the guise of NRC implementation.
Asserting her opposition to the NRC in Bengal, CM Banerjee pledged to resist its imposition in the state. In a strategic move, she positioned the TMC as the sole challenger to the BJP in West Bengal, criticising the CPI(M) and Congress for allegedly aligning with the ruling party.
Only TMC Is Fighting The BJP: Mamata
"Only the TMC is fighting the BJP in Bengal, while the other two parties are working with it. We are with the INDIA bloc at the national level, but in Bengal, TMC must win to save the country".
CM Banerjee claimed that if the BJP returned to power no more elections would be held in the country. "There will be the rule of one man and one party", she claimed. Additionally, Banerjee targeted the Election Commission, alleging obstruction in the state government's efforts to rebuild homes ravaged by a storm in Jalpaiguri, Coochbehar, and Alipurduar.
She pledged to prioritise reconstruction efforts once the elections conclude. Highlighting the neglect of the tea gardens in northern West Bengal by the BJP-led government at the Centre, CM Banerjee touted her administration's achievements in reopening 59 tea gardens and granting land rights to long-standing workers, positioning the TMC as a champion of workers' rights and welfare, as per PTI.
CM Banerjee condemned the alleged targeting of her convoy by BJP members in the Chalsa area, decrying their audacity and highlighting her own frugal lifestyle and dedication to public service. Emphasising her refusal to accept MP pension or salary, and her preference for personal vehicles over government ones, she portrayed herself as a modest leader committed to simplicity.
Despite the provocation, CM Banerjee asserted her restraint, stating that she refrained from taking stringent action against the BJP members due to the ongoing elections. However, she was quick to add, "I won't stoop to the level of the BJP".
Following the rally, CM Mamata spearheaded a roadshow in Siliguri, the largest city in northern West Bengal, in a show of support for the TMC's Darjeeling candidate Gopal Lama, who is contesting against BJP MP Raju Bista and Congress's Munish Tamang.
Accusing the BJP of propagating hate speech, Banerjee denounced the party's divisive tactics, alleging that it targeted Sikhs as Khalistanis, Muslims as Pakistanis, and Bengalis as non-religious Hindus who consume fish. She condemned the deep-seated prejudice among top BJP leaders and defended the right to dietary and cultural choices, stressing the importance of tolerance and acceptance.
Banerjee's remarks were in response to Prime Minister Modi's recent criticism of opposition leaders for consuming non-vegetarian food during the holy month of Sawan, which she deemed as an attempt to stoke communal tensions. Extending greetings for Basanti Puja and Annapurna Puja.