On the day the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) called for a 12-hour bandh, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee issued a stern warning to the central leadership . Addressing a public rally, Banerjee cautioned that if Bengal burns, unrest will spread to Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, and Delhi. She stated, “If Prime Minister Narendra Modi tries to burn West Bengal, then no BJP-ruled state will be spared.”
In response, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar criticized Banerjee’s remarks. Sarma said, “Didi, how dare you threaten Assam? Don’t show us your red eyes. Don’t even try to set India on fire with the politics of your failures.” Majumdar labeled Banerjee’s statement as anti-national and urged Home Minister Amit Shah to take appropriate actions to uphold the rule of law and maintain public order.
दीदी, आपकी हिम्मत कैसे हुई असम को धमकाने की? हमें लाल आंखें मत दिखाइए। आपकी असफलता की राजनीति से भारत को जलाने की कोशिश भी मत कीजिए। आपको विभाजनकारी भाषा बोलना शोभा नहीं देता।
দিদি, আপনার এতো সাহস কীভাবে হলো যে আপনি অসমকে ধমকি দিচ্ছেন? আমাদের রক্তচক্ষু দেখাবেন না। আপনার অসফলতার… pic.twitter.com/k194lajS8s
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) August 28, 2024
Majumdar further accused Banerjee of endorsing revenge politics and inciting violence. He stated, “This is nothing less than a blatant endorsement of revenge politics from the highest office in the state. Her statement is a clear attempt to threaten, incite violence, and sow hatred among the people.” Majumdar called for Banerjee’s resignation, emphasizing the duty of public servants to promote peace and discourage violence.
The BJP’s bandh was in protest against police action on participants of a march to the state secretariat organized by the newly formed students’ group Chatra Samaj over the rape and murder of a doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. Several BJP leaders, including former Rajya Sabha MP Roopa Ganguly and MLA Agnimitra Paul, were detained for blocking roads and railway tracks. Kolkata Municipal Corporation councillor Sajal Ghosh was also detained, leading to a rally by his wife, Tania Ghosh, alleging wrongful detention.
