Mamata Banerjee's remarks came in response to BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari's ominous statement hinting at a significant upheaval within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) ranks. She accused the ruling BJP of orchestrating a conspiracy against herself and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee, expressing concerns about their safety.
Speaking at an election rally in Balurghat, Mamata Banerjee urged TMC leaders, workers, and the people of West Bengal to remain vigilant against potential threats. She asserted that despite feeling targeted by the BJP, neither she nor Abhishek Banerjee would succumb to fear.
Her comments were prompted by Adhikari's declaration of an impending "big explosion" on Monday, aimed at rattling the TMC establishment. Mamata Banerjee derided Adhikari as a turncoat who had joined the BJP to shield his family and ill-gotten gains. She dismissed his threats, likening them to trivial "chocolate bomb" explosions and vowed to counter them with factual revelations, particularly regarding alleged discrepancies in the PM Care Fund and unfulfilled promises such as the fabled Rs 15 lakh deposit in citizens' bank accounts.
Additionally, Mamata Banerjee criticized the BJP for what she perceived as a deliberate attempt to appropriate and politicize symbols of national identity, such as the recent change in the color scheme of the Doordarshan logo. She lamented the saffronization of independent institutions, warning against the BJP's authoritarian tendencies. She linked this move to broader concerns about the erosion of democratic norms and religious freedoms under a potential BJP-dominated government, cautioning that the BJP's ascendancy could lead to a singular, oppressive rule, endangering the rights of diverse religious communities.
In essence, Mamata Banerjee's remarks underscored her resolve to confront perceived threats from the BJP, while also highlighting her concerns about the erosion of democratic principles and secular values in the face of increasing authoritarianism.
