Union Minister Chirag Paswan has launched a scathing attack over recent remarks of the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Addressing a function marking the foundation day of Trinamool ‘Chhatra Parishad’ in Kolkata, Banerjee reacted to a BJP-organized 12-hour ‘Bengal Bandh’ and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of trying to create violence in Bengal. She had said if Bengal burns, other places such as Assam, UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Delhi are also capable of burning. She had said, “If you burn Bengal, Assam, the North-East, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Delhi too shall burn! We will topple your government.”
Paswan said he was more alarmed by this remark; he termed these utterances “shameful.” He questioned the Calcutta Chief Minister’s ability to manage affairs in her state. In a press statement, he said, “There is nothing more shameful than this statement from a CM. One CM not being able to handle the situation in her state. Such incidents are shameful, whichever state it takes place in.” Paswan further said that Banerjee’s remarks were a signal of weakness and failure on her part. He even went to the extent of demanding that the central government impose President’s Rule in Bengal, thus showing a loss of confidence in the state leadership.
Furthering the criticism was BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla, who blasted Banerjee’s remarks. He showed anguish with the statements of the victim’s parents in the recent case of rape and murder at RG Kar Medical College. Poonawalla said, “Mamata Banerjee, where has your ‘mamata’ gone? The cruelty you are displaying alongside the ongoing statements from the victim’s parents is deeply saddening.” He went on to lash at the senior leaders of the Indian alliance for their seeming indifference to Banerjee’s statements.
Poonawalla’s comments underlined the fact that perhaps instead of justice, Banerjee seemed driven by a need for revenge. He said her rhetoric was not helpful in the quest for justice that the whole nation wants. He added, “What is even more disheartening is that the senior leaders of the INDIA alliance seem unaffected by these remarks.” Comments that underlined a growing frustration with what he sees as a failure to constructively address serious issues.
In other words, Paswan and Poonawalla severely condemn the inflammatory remarks of Banerjee. As they say, this also reflects badly on her leadership and does not contribute anything towards the solution to the existing pressing issues regarding the recent incidents of violence in Bengal.
ANI
