Speaking during a programme in Bankura district, she alleged that those comparing the protests were trying to “stoke violence” in the state.
Without taking any names, the CM said, “Remember Singur, Nandigram, Khatra, and Bishnupur — there are different faces everywhere. They are trying to spark violence everywhere by comparing one to another. I don’t want bloodshed or torture anywhere. Those who are making tall claims, I ask them, should I open your bhandar (account)? I have a lot of things there. I never support any wrong knowingly. If unknowingly something has happened, I don’t support that and help people every way.”
On Saturday, LoP in state Assembly and Nandigram MLA Suvendu Adhikari had said, “The situation in Sandeshkhali is like Nandigram. In Nandigram, people fought against land acquisition and here people are fighting against land grab. Here, protests began after women started their movement against sexual harassment but land grabbing is the second most common allegation in Sandeshkhali.” In 2007-08, a movement against “forcible” land acquisition in Nandigram in Purba Medinipur district by the then Left Front government had catapulted the TMC to power in 2011.
Sandeshkhali has been tense after local residents went on rampage against TMC leaders Shahjahan Sheikh and his aides while accusing them of land grab and sexually harassing women.
The CM alleged that under her government, adivasis (tribals) in Birbhum district were living in peace, whereas in BJP-ruled states the atrocities against these communities were rising.
“In BJP-ruled states, tribals are tortured and oppressed. We have made laws that ensure that adivasi lands are not captured because the jungle is their right. We have told the Centre that many tribals perform ‘prakriti puja’ (worship nature) and have asked for Sari and Sarna faiths to be recognised as religions. If they don’t deliver on this, we will organise a mass movement in the coming days to demand the recognition of Sari and Sarna faith.”
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief criticised the Centre over the Uniform Civil Code issue and the ongoing farm protests. The state Assembly in BJP-ruled Uttarakhand recently passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), Uttarakhand, Bill 2024. The proposed law seeks to “govern and regulate the laws related to marriage and divorce, successions, live-in relationships, and matters related thereto”.
“There are various communities and they have their rituals – be it adivasis, Hindus, Muslims, or Tapasilis. But they want to break all existing rules and bring a Uniform Civil Code law – one rule for all. They don’t want people to eat meat and eggs. They are deciding on what uniform girls will wear to school. Farmers are being oppressed and being implicated by the National Investigation Agency. Those who killed farmers with bullets are now talking about farmers,” she added.
Reacting sharply to the incident where a Sikh IPS officer was called ‘Khalistiani’ during a BJP protest near Sandeshkhali, Banerjee said, “They look at Sikhs and call them Khalistanis. Does anyone wearing a turban become a Khalistani? If someone has a Muslim name, they are branded as Pakistanis. They should be questioned on their work first!”
The CM slammed the BJP-led Centre for blocking state funds under various welfare schemes. “The Central government has stopped all our funds. They collect money from Bengal but do not give us our rightful share. Let’s unite against those who have deprived, maligned, and tortured Bengal, and ensure that there is ‘gorjon’ (roar) in Bengal. What others can’t, Bengal can.”