We will remain united and stay together, it’s my promise: Mamata Banerjee
Telegraph | 23 January 2024
Mamata Banerjee on Monday tried to allay the biggest fear in the minds of the minorities, promising she would not let the saffron ecosystem persecute them, as she addressed a public meeting after an all-faith unity march.
“If you think that only you people (an allusion to Hindutva adherents) will live (in the country), that will not happen.... We will remain united and stay together, it’s my promise,” the Bengal chief minister said, appearing to project herself as the biggest protector of India’s secular ethos.
As she spoke these words, Mamata stole a glance at the group of religious heads from the Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Jain and Buddhist communities who were on the dais from where she was addressing a gathering of around 40,000 people.
The meeting was held after a 5km unity march through parts of south Calcutta, during which the Trinamul leader offered prayers at seven religious shrines popular among Hindus, Sikhs, Christians and Muslims.
At the gathering, representatives of various religions explained why Mamata’s leadership was crucial if the country were to retain its pluralistic fabric.
Their short speeches made three main points — that India’s history is one of inclusion, that the minorities fear persecution, and that Mamata alone can protect the country’s secular character and the minorities’ rights.
Mamata, who listened to them with rapt attention and occasionally complimented the speakers after their speeches, tried her best to rise to the occasion.
“The battle has begun; it’s a battle for life…. The battle may be difficult, but victory will not elude us,” she said.
As her speech triggered discussions within Trinamul about whether it was one of her best, this newspaper asked her how she rated her performance at the Park Circus Maidan.
“I did not give any
speech,” Mamata replied,
implying what she said was not a political statement but rather a response to
the minorities’ concerns and an effort to offer them a sense of security.
Ayodhya
In
her 40-odd minute address, Mamata did
not mention the consecration ceremony in Ayodhya or Prime Minister Narendra
Modi even once, but her speech was peppered with oblique references to the pomp
surrounding the inauguration of the Ram temple.
“I
don’t have any problems if people pray to Ram, Shyam or Rahim.... You can
always perform puja at home. I do it, too,” she said, making it clear that she
respected all religions.
Since
announcing the all-faith unity march, Mamata has
been trying to get the message across that the initiative was not aimed at
countering or opposing the Ram temple inauguration.
“My
problem is with this (display) in a country where there are so many unemployed
and poor people,” she said.
Mamata accused the BJP of organising the event ahead of the Lok
Sabha elections to try and reap political dividends. “Please don’t do such
politics before an election.... Don’t sacrifice the poor in the name of
religion.”
It
was clear she wasn’t only criticising the Prime Minister’s participation in the
consecration but also flagging the elaborate arrangements — such as the
installation of giant LED screens across the country to beam the inauguration
live — to create a frenzy around the event.
She
questioned the media coverage of the developments in Ayodhya.
“Have
you seen what they are doing? It’s as if the freedom struggle is going
on,” Mamata said, disapproving
of the round-the-clock beaming of footage from Ayodhya.
She
flagged the Ayodhya show’s downplaying of Sita. “I am not against Ram, but I
also respect Sita. There was no mention of Sita…. Are you anti-women? Without
Kaushalya, who would have given birth to Ram?” the chief minister said.
Fighting BJP
Mamata said she had the ability to take the BJP on and complained
she was not being allowed to put up a fight.
“I
have the ability to fight (the BJP)… but they don’t let me fight,” she said,
signalling her disappointment with the INDIA bloc of Opposition parties, formed
last year to put up a united fight against the BJP.
Mamata has been upset with the workings of the fledgling alliance
for several reasons, such as the delay in sealing a seat-sharing arrangement
and the regular attacks on her by the CPM leadership and a section of the
Bengal Congress.
“I
suggested the name INDIA, but when I attend its meetings I see the CPM trying
to dictate to others. I don’t get the respect I deserve. I will not take any
advice from those against whom I have fought all my life,” she said, implying
she was uninterested in any truck with the communists.
She
said the delay in reaching a seat-sharing formula — something she has been
pitching for right from the alliance’s first meeting in Patna — was ending up
helping the BJP.
“I
had told them (the Congress) to fight in 300 seats and leave the regional
players to fight the BJP in their respective states…. But they say they will do
whatever they want. I warn them not to do anything that will end up strengthening
the BJP,” Mamata said.
Mamata accused the Congress also of failing to organise any major
nationwide programme coinciding with the consecration.
“I
organised this unity rally.... I am the only one who visited a temple, a
gurdwara, a church, a mazar and a mosque today,” she said.
“How
many political parties took the BJP head-on today? Somebody went to one temple
and thought it was sufficient, but it doesn’t work like that,” she said in what
seemed an allusion to Rahul Gandhi’s unsuccessful effort to visit the Batadrava
Than in Assam.
Battle cry
Although Mamata deliberately had politicians
playing second fiddle to the religious leaders at the unity march and the
meeting that followed, her speech was a deeply political one. She explained why
the BJP was a threat to India’s inclusive culture.
She
spoke at length about the divergent food habits and sartorial preferences among
Indians, depending on culture and geography.
“They
will not allow fish and meat.... They will not allow even a pregnant woman to
have eggs. They will dictate what to eat and what to wear. I won’t let that
happen,” the chief minister said.
She
aired one of her biggest complaints against the BJP-led Centre — that it was
denying Bengal its financial dues, thus depriving scores of the poor who had
worked under the 100 days’ job scheme.
Mamata said work under the rural housing and rural road schemes had
stopped because the Centre had frozen the funds.
“They
want us to paint government buildings in saffron…. There are so many colours in
the rainbow and we can select any of them, but they want us to opt for their
party colour. Why should I allow this?” she said.
Mamata referred to the BJP’s efforts to use a section of Muslims to
drive a wedge in the community.
“There
are some touts who split Muslim votes…. This should not be allowed. I vow, in
the name of God, that if anyone helps the BJP I will not spare them,” she said.