In two back-to-back programmes on Tuesday in Cooch Behar district in north Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged people not to join the BJP “under any circumstances”. In Darjeeling district, however, BJP president Amit Shah said that his party workers “shall not rest” till the party came to power in Bengal.
“None of you should join the BJP. They indulge in divisive politics and incite riots,” said Ms. Banerjee at a government programme in Cooch Behar town.
Accusing the BJP of “maligning the image of Hinduism”, Ms. Banerjee questioned its notion of Hindutva. “BJP’s Hindutva is one of divisiveness and riots. The Hindu religion never divides people but BJP does; we will never accept it,” she said.
Condemning the Centre’s plan to issue “Aadhaar cards” for cows, Ms Banerjee said, “Now, they [the Centre] are saying they will issue Aadhaar cards for cows. What kind of card they will ask from a child who needs milk?”
At another rally in Chakchaka near the Cooch Behar town, Ms. Banerjee not only urged the crowd “not to support” BJP but also questioned the party’s knowledge of Hinduism. Wondering whether BJP had “any clue” about the Vedas, Ms. Banerjee wanted to know “are we not from Hindu families?” She urged the crowd to “foil any attempts to create divisions in society”.
Lotus will bloom: Shah
Mr. Shah cautioned the Trinamool Congress that it could not intimidate BJP workers in Bengal. “The Trinamool seems to have the misconception that it can intimidate BJP workers with their terror tactics. Listen Mamata Banerjee, this is the BJP of Syama Prasad Mookerjee. The more you inflict violence on us, the more the lotus will bloom in Bengal,” he said at a party rally in Siliguri in North Bengal.
Alleging that the Trinamool regime was “even worst than the Left rule”, he said: “Earlier one used to hear the tunes of Rabindra Sangeet in Bengal, but now only the sound of bomb blasts can be heard.”
