West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Friday launched a stinging attack on the BJP over the violence in Manipur, saying the saffron party's 'Beti Bachao' campaign "has now turned into Beti Jalao".
Addressing the TMC's Martyrs' Day in Kolkata, which was attended by a massive crowd in the heart of the city, Mamata said, "You (BJP) gave 'Beti Bachao' slogan, where is your slogan now. Today Manipur is burning, the whole country is burning. In Bilkis Bano's case, the accused were released on bail. In the wrestler's case, (Brij Bhushan Singh) was also granted bail...The women of the country will throw you out of the country's politics in the coming elections."
"I want to ask PM Modi did the incident in Manipur not hurt you even a little? You point fingers at West Bengal but don't you have love for sisters and mothers? Till when daughters will be burnt, Dalits, minorities will be killed, people will be killed? We will not leave Manipur, North Eastern sisters are our sisters," Banerjee further said.
A viral video from Manipur, shot on May 4, showing two tribal women being paraded naked has led to nationwide outrage. BJP, which is the ruling party in Manipur, has come under fierce attack from the Opposition, which has demanded the resignation of Chief Minister N Biren Singh.
Mamata also said she has appealed to all the Chief Ministers of 'INDIA' alliance to visit Manipur together. "Will let you know when the date is decided," she said.
The TMC supremo also said the Opposition bloc would organise all protests against the Centre under banner of alliance "INDIA".
Mamata's mega rally comes days after she attended the joint Opposition meeting in Bengaluru, where it was decided that their front will be called "INDIA" or Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance.
Speaking at the event, TMC MP and Mamata's nephew Abhishek Banerjee announced a protest in Delhi on October 2 over the Centre allegedly stopping funds to the state.
"The way BJP is stopping our funds (to the state)...we will go to Delhi on October 2, on the day of Gandhi Jayanti...On August 5, we will gherao all BJP leaders' houses peacefully," Banerjee said.
As a massive crowd descended in central Kolkata for the rally, an unprecedented security cover was in place for the Trinamool Congress's annual programme. A record number of 5,000 police personnel was deputed in and around the programme venue, IANS reported.
TMC observes Martyrs' Day on July 21 every year to commemorate the killing of 13 people in police firing on a Youth Congress rally in 1993 during the then Left Front government. Mamata Banerjee was then the Youth Congress state president. Even after Banerjee formed TMC in 1998, she has continued to observe Martyrs' Day every year.
The programme has served as a peek into the party's roadmap for the next 12 months.
The TMC has received a shot in the arm ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election after it secured a landslide in the three-tier panchayat polls, which was conducted amid widespread violence and bloodshed.
TMC bagged 79 per cent of the gram panchayats, 92 per cent of the panchayat samitis and all the zilla parishads.