In an autocratic diktat to the people residing in West Bengal, Chief Minister (CM) Mamata Banerjee has issued an ultimatum asking them to learn and converse in Bengali if they wish to continue living in the state. Facing flak for the ongoing impasse between the medical fraternity and the state government, TMC chief has resorted to linguistic chauvinism. The CM’s move appears to divert the attention of the people from her ongoing tussle with the doctors towards their cultural and linguistic supremacy.
Addressing the Trinamool Congress rally in North 24 Parganas district, Mamata targeting the BJP said, “We have to promote Bangla. When I go to Bihar, UP, Punjab, I speak their language there. If you live in West Bengal then you will have to speak Bengali. I will not tolerate criminals who live in Bengal and roam around on bikes.”
Pointing towards the BJP on the pretext of being the outsiders, Mamta declared that if one is in Bengal they must speak Bengali. She asserted she will not tolerate criminals who live in Bengal and roam around on their bikes and stated she wouldn’t allow West Bengal to turn into Gujarat.
Banerjee was in a rally in North 24 Parganas district, where a 42-year old woman BJP worker Sarawati Das was mercilessly shot to death last evening allegedly by TMC supporters.
Recently, NRS Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata was attacked by a violent mob following the death of an old patient Mohammed Sayeed, a resident of Tangra in Kolkata, who was brought to the hospital in a critical condition on Sunday night. Although he was admitted to the emergency immediately, family members claim that no proper care was given. The deceased was a local imam, claim sources.
On Thursday, Banerjee escalated the ongoing crisis in West Bengal by blaming ‘outsiders’ and the BJP for the series of protests by medical professionals in the state. The medical professionals then called out strikes displaying remarkable courage against what appears as an oppressive state government. The ensuing imbroglio between the state government and the medical fraternity has not been resolved yet.
Banerjee has instead slammed BJP and CPI(M), alleging they are in cahoots with the doctors. She added that opposition parties are inciting the doctors to hold strikes. Meanwhile, BJP’s National Secretary General Kailash Vijayvargiya has targeted Banerjee for the doctors’ strike. Vijayvargiya tweeted, “Mamata Banerjee, you are also the health minister of the state. Due to your ego, how many people have died in the last four days. Have shame!”
