Mamata Banerjee, the Trinamool Congress chief, on Thursday issued a strong warning to party defectors, likening leaving the organisation to abandoning a sick mother.
Speaking at a virtual meeting of the North Kolkata District TMC, she sought to rally party workers amid what she described as sustained pressure and “oppression” from the BJP-led central government.
Referring to leaders who have switched sides, she said, “It is like a mother who raised you all your life; when she falls ill, you refuse to care for her. There is no forgiveness for traitors. They may survive today, but in the future the people and party workers will hold them accountable.”
In her address, Banerjee also described the current political environment as one marked by fear, legal pressure, and economic hardship, alleging that people were being pushed into distress, losing livelihoods, and facing demolitions of their shops and homes.
She argued that only a united TMC could withstand the situation, crediting grassroots workers for the party’s strength and saying that many victories had come through their sacrifice.
Taking aim at defectors, she accused them of leaving the party to protect themselves and their families, including escaping legal troubles, and said such betrayal was unforgivable. She also dismissed claims that they had switched sides to protect party workers, suggesting instead that personal interests were behind the moves.
Banerjee warned that those who left would find themselves politically isolated, saying they would belong “neither here nor there,” while also leaving the door open for some to return.
She further accused the BJP of targeting the party and criticised law enforcement agencies, claiming that the police response had become unfamiliar and politically influenced. She also alleged restrictions on political meetings and action against users expressing dissent on digital platforms.
Comparing politics to family ties, she said she had broken relations with some relatives over betrayal, while highlighting that her nephew Abhishek Banerjee continued to support her despite facing repeated questioning by investigative agencies.
Concluding her speech, she called for unity ahead of the party’s Martyrs’ Day rally on July 21, saying that even if only a small number of workers attended, the event would still go ahead. She urged supporters to come together and strengthen the organisation.
She also referred to the BJP’s observance of “Constitution Murder Day,” questioning the state of constitutional governance and alleging misuse of authority, before reiterating her appeal for unity within the party.
