The on ground political battle between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is all set to return — after a brief hiatus over the India-Pakistan tensions — with both the parties planning rallies over the success of Operation Sindoor.
While the BJP plans to launch a ‘Tiranga Yatra’ to highlight the “success of Operation Sindoor”, the TMC is set to hold a ‘Patriotic Rally’ to offer “solidarity and condolences” for the jawans who fought against Pakistan.
On Wednesday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, while addressing the media at Nabanna, said: “Our party will organise rallies on Saturday and Sunday from 3 pm to 5 pm. If needed, we will visit their families and offer our condolences. We do not see this matter politically, it is our social responsibility,” she said.
“Neither did I make any political statement, nor did I allow anyone from my party or the state government to comment politically on this,” she added.
This had come after the party’s inaction on the ground after Operation Sindoor was making many of its grassroots leaders uneasy.
“It is our responsibility to offer tribute to our brave soldiers who gave their lives for our nation. These rallies will be held across the state, and we will pay our respects in every block (in rural areas) and ward (in urban areas),” said Banerjee.
On Friday, the BJP held a rally in Kolkata led by Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Suvendu Adhikari.
Adhikari has already claimed credit for the Centre on the release of BSF jawan Purnam Kumar Shaw and Bengal farmer Ukil Burman from Bangladesh, while the Chief Minister too has claimed credit for both.
On Thursday, Adhikari took to X and wrote, “I had the honour of visiting the home of our brave BSF Jawan Purnam Kumar Shaw, who was released from Pakistan’s custody today. It was a heartwarming experience to celebrate this joyous occasion with his loved ones. His parents, who are finally relieved, expressed gratitude to the Central government. His wife asserted that ‘Modi hain toh mumkin hai’ and thanked Modi ji for ensuring that her ‘Sindoor’ returned safely from Pakistan. Our Jawans are our pride.”
The LoP also expressed “heartfelt regards” to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and the DG of the BSF “for securing the release of Shri Ukil Barman from Bangladesh… Shri Ukil Barman is a farmer from the Rajbangshi community who was abducted from the border area at Sitalkuchi in the Cooch Behar district of West Bengal on April 16.”
At a press conference on Wednesday, CM Banerjee said, “We had all throughout been in touch with BSF jawan Purnam Shaw’s wife Rajni and spoke to her four to five times.”
“Consistent efforts were made from our end. Our (Bengal) DGP was in continuous touch with his BSF counterpart. I told Rajni the day before yesterday that her husband was healthy and doing well, and that the modalities of his release would, however, take some time. He was released this morning. I am happy. His family is happy. The entire country is happy,” she said.
Regarding Ukil Burman, she said, “The farmer was doing agricultural work on his own land when some miscreants abducted him.”