Speaking at an event in South 24 Parganas district’s Jayanagar-1 block, the chief minister said, “Yesterday I was asked what is your opinion about Ram Mandir? I don’t have anything else to do? This is the only work? I said religion belongs to different individuals, a festival is for everyone. I believe in the festival… The festival that goes with everyone, talks about everyone, speaking of unity. You are doing it under the court order.”
“He (Prime Minister) would do a gimmick show before the election. I have no objection! But it is nobody’s business to neglect the people of other communities,” she added.
Without mentioning the recent incident in Sandeshkhali where a team of Enforcement Department (ED) officials was assaulted, Mamata criticised central agencies.
“During the NRC (National Register of Citizens) issue, you saw what movement we did. You have seen what movement I did during the CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) issue. Now a lot of oppression is happening to our people. The Government of India is running like an agency government. The way rats and mice are roaming, they will loot your hard-earned money. You won’t even get the seizure list. I would like to ask the chief secretary, have the items taken by the CBI in Bogtui been recovered,” she sought to know.
Accusing the BJP of divisive politics and the use of ED-CBI, Mamata said, “As long as the Trinamool Congress is there… I promise you… I swear to God, I will never be a Hindu. Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Scheduled Tribes will not be divided.”
Mentioning the Bilkis Bano case, she said, “They tried to save the culprits in the Bilkis Bano case, but the Supreme Court gave a strong order against them. Those who expelled our MP Mahua Moitra were from a party that appealed in the Supreme Court against the Bilkis Bano order.”
Attacking the BJP-led central government for not releasing pending funds to the state government, Mamata said, “They are not giving money for 100 days of work, they are not giving money for building houses, they are not giving money for building roads. But they say everything is being painted in BJP colours… They come during the election. They come to distinguish between religions. But they don’t give money.”
She went on, “Seventy-six teams came from the Centre last year. I recently came from a meeting. He (Prime Minister) says he will talk to ministry officials. They don’t pay though, no shame.”