'If Bengal burns' controversy: CM Mamata Banerjee face backlash from BJP and CMs for threatening northeast, doctors
Times of India | 29 August 2024
NEW DELHI: BJP has criticized West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee for allegedly issuing threats to protesting doctors and northeastern states during a public address at the Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) foundation day event on Wednesday.
Himanta Biswa Sarma: Didi how dare you threaten Assam?
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma criticized his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday for allegedly threatening Assam with potential unrest.Sarma accused Banerjee of provoking public disorder to obscure her own shortcomings.
"Didi, how dare you threaten Assam? Don't show your anger to us," Sarma wrote on X, accompanying his post with a 46-second video clip of Banerjee's speech.
Sarma fired back, saying, "Don't even try to incite India with your politics of failure. It does not suit you to speak divisive language."
In the video, Banerjee emphasized that although Bangladesh and West Bengal share the same language and culture, they are two different entities, with West Bengal being part of India.
'Inciting speeches': BJP president Sukanta Majumdar
Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar penned a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, accusing chief minister Mamata Banerjee of delivering "inciting" speeches at the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad’s rally on Mayo Road. Majumdar called for "prompt and decisive action" to protect the interests of Bengal’s citizens.
Majumdar accused the chief minister of trying to "incite the crowd" by urging them to take action, suggesting that revenge politics was being driven by the state's top office. He claimed that her remarks about Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha were detrimental to the federal structure and national interest.
Majumdar emphasized that it is the duty of public servants, especially those in high authority, to foster peace and discourage violence.
He urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to take swift and decisive measures to protect the citizens of West Bengal.
There is no rule of law in West Bengal: Union Minister and senior JD(U) leader Lalan Singh
Union Minister and senior JD(U) leader Lalan Singh criticized West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday for the worsening law and order situation in the state, following the recent rape and murder of a junior doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College in Kolkata.
“There is no rule of law in West Bengal, only complete anarchy. It’s shocking that the state’s Chief Minister is a woman, yet when protests are held against crimes targeting women, she responds with lathi charges, water cannons, and tear gas,” Singh remarked while speaking to the media at Patna airport on Wednesday.
'She can't bully, threaten us': Assam Minister Pijush Hazarika
Assam Minister Pijush Hazarika sharply criticized Mamata Banerjee for her statement, "If Bengal burns, so will Assam."
In a conversation with ANI, Hazarika defended Assam's governance and emphasized the state's strong stance against outside interference.
"She cannot intimidate or threaten us. If she cannot manage law and order in her own state, she has no right to make threats against us. This will not happen in Assam, I assure you," Hazarika stated on Wednesday.
How dare Didi threaten the Northeast?: N Biren Singh
Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh also criticized the Bengal CM on Wednesday.
In a tweet the CM said, “How dare Didi threaten the Northeast? I condemn such irresponsible remarks in the strongest terms. She must publicly apologize to the Northeast and the rest of the nation.”
“@MamataOfficial Ji must immediately stop inciting violence and hatred with divisive politics. It is highly unbecoming of a political leader to issue threats of violence on a public platform,” he added further.
If Bengal is set on fire other states would be affected: Mamata Banerjee
At a public rally in Kolkata, Mamata Banerjee accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of using the BJP to stir unrest in Bengal over the rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. She warned that if Bengal is set on fire, other states—including Assam, the Northeast, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Delhi—would also be affected, and Modi's position would be threatened.
"Some people think this is Bangladesh. I love Bangladesh; they speak like us and share our culture. But remember, Bangladesh is a separate country and India is a separate country. PM Modi is using his party to cause fire here. If you burn Bengal, Assam, North-East, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Delhi too shall burn! We will topple your chair," Mamata Banerjee said.
Bengal's junior doctors have turned down Mamata Banerjee's request to call off their ceasework
The protesting junior doctors in West Bengal, who have been on strike for 20 days over the alleged rape and murder of a fellow medic, rejected chief minister Mamata Banerjee's appeal to resume work on Wednesday.
A representative from the West Bengal Junior Doctors' Forum stated that they would not end their protest until their demands, including justice for the deceased postgraduate trainee from RG Kar hospital, are fulfilled.