SURI/KOLKATA: BJP was "stoking flames instead of restoring peace" in Sandeshkhali after having staged "one incident" there, Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said on Sunday.
Accusing BJP of triggering unrest in Sandeshkhali, she said: "One incident took place. That incident has been staged. First, they send ED. Then its friend, BJP, entered with ED. And some media stepped in.... And they are making a mountain out of a molehill. Instead of restoring peace, they are stoking flames."
She said the entire Sandeskhkhali incident was being blown out of proportion. Appealing to its residents, she said: "I want to tell them, whatever complaints you have, I'm sending officers, they will listen to you.... And if anyone says that someone has taken anything from them, everything will be returned. Remember, I do whatever I promise." Banerjee's appeal came amid protests by women against TMC functionaries Shibu Hazra and Uttam Sardar.
Reacting to opposition's accusations that there were several instances of local people being oppressed and even harassed by local strongmen with Trinamool connections, she told her audience that there had been no complaints in the past. "No one had complained before, no FIR was filed. Our block president (Hazra) has been arrested. Even Arabul Islam of Bhangar (former TMC MLA)... he is also our worker, he, too has been arrested. How many have you (BJP) arrested?"
Without naming anyone, Banerjee further said she could, too, arrest "traitors". "I am giving (him or her) time, a long rope. These traitors are neck deep in corruption but say others are thieves. They (the traitors) are biggest thieves. In Bengal, mothers often say empty vessels sound the most. They (Bengal BJP leaders) are empty vessels. They have nothing on their own. If Delhi tells them yes, they dance, and if Delhi says 'no', they sulk at home. Their politics is on Delhi's diktat, not out of love for Bengal. They are anti-Bengali, anti-women, anti-Dalit and anti-kisan."
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