West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday alleged that the BJP was dangerous than the Maoists and the State will face an eminent doom if the party comes to power after the Assembly election.
“Our mothers and sisters listen that if BJP comes to power, there will be no Purulia, there will be no Rupasi Bangla. Maoists will come back again … BJP is more dangerous than Maoist,” Ms Banerjee said addressing a public meeting in Purulia district.
The Chief Minister alleged that many Maoists had joined the mainstream but the BJP “enters any place like a needle and makes a gaping hole”. She also accused BJP leaders of making false promises to the people before elections and not standing by the people after being elected.
During her hour-long speech, Ms. Banerjee questioned where BJP was when the region was in the grip of Left Front extremism. “Where were you when there was blood shed on Ayodhya hills, bloodshed on Bandwan..,” she asked.
The Chief Minister alleged that the BJP was trying to “occupy Bengal” and said it was “good riddance” to leaders who have left the Trinamool Congress.
“You can change clothes every day but not one cannot change political ideology overnight. Those who want to join the BJP can leave but we will never bow our heads to the saffron party,” Ms Banerjee added.
Threat to actors
During the rally Ms. Banerjee also raised the issue of BJP leaders are targeting cinema stars.
The Chief Minister’s remarks follow the police complaint files by former Meghalaya Governor Tathagata Roy against Bengali actor Saayoni Ghosh for 'hurting sentiments' of Hindus by sharing a meme on Twitter. The actor has claimed that it was several year-old post which she had since deleted.
“Today also I heard that she was threatened. You can threaten people in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi but how dare you threaten people in Bengal … If you have guts try and lay your hands on Saayoni,” Ms Banerjee said.
‘Insult to people’
The BJP leadership said that by equating the party with Maoists, the Chief Minister has not insulted the party but the people of the country.
“She has insulted the people of the country by equating a party that got massive mandate a year ago won over 300 seats in Lok Sabha polls to Maoists,” BJP vice president Mukul Roy said.
