Shah should get state’s dues cleared before talking big: Abhishek
The Statesman | 27 September 2025Mr Banerjee paid floral tribute to Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar on his 203rd birth anniversary at Vidyasagar College this afternoon.
He challenged Mr Shah to sit for a debate at any place of his choice on Bengal’s financial deprivation by the Centre. “The BJP has deliberately deprived Bengal financially. They have not given money earmarked for Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) of rural houses, rural roads and even drinking water. Now they are talking big. They should clear the dues before making tall statements.”
Abhishek said it was the BJP who had vandalised the statue of Vidyasagar before the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. “The saffron party did not take action against those involved in the incident,” he said adding, “The BJP is shedding crocodile tears for the great sons of Bengal. Mr Shah came to inaugurate a Durga Puja which is situated just 10 minutes away from Vidyasagar College and his residence at Badur Bagan. This shows their respect for Vidyasagar.”
He said the BJP does not know the culture and tradition of Bengal. “The leaders said that Rabindranath Tagore was born in Santiniketan. They are unaware of the contribution of Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar or Raja Rammohan Roy and the Bengal renaissance. They do not know the contribution of Khudiram Bose in the Indian freedom movement. It is the saffron party leaders, who had said that the state government did not allow Durga Puja to be held in Bengal. The city had received 300mm rainfall on Tuesday night. Within 48 hours the water had receded from the streets. But the BJP spread lies over waterlogging,” said Abhishek.
Mr Banerjee said the state government had renovated the house of Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar at Birsingha village in West Midnapore. His house in Badur Bagan has also been renovated. “It was Vidyasagar, who taught us to learn the Bengali alphabet. He fought against the social evils and introduced widow remarriage. He was one of the brightest social reformers in the 19th century. His philosophy continues to inspire us at a time when Bengali-speaking migrant workers have been harassed and humiliated in the BJP-controlled states.”
