On the same day, Mamata Banerjee addressed a public event that was organised to mark the foundation day of the Trinamool Congress’s student wing. During her address, CM Banerjee warned that the unrest in Bengal could have far-reaching consequences beyond the state.
She went further to blame Prime Minister Narendra Modi and accused his party of fueling unrest in Bengal. Mamata Banerjee brazened it out saying, “Mr. Modi, you’re using your party to start a fire here. If you burn Bengal, Assam, North-East, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Delhi too shall burn! We will topple your chair.” Banerjee further stated, “Some people think this is Bangladesh. Please remember, I love Bangladesh, they speak like us, and their culture is the same as ours, but Bangladesh is a separate nation, and India is a separate nation.”
Kolkata: CM Mamata Banerjee says, "Remember if Bengal is burned, then Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Delhi will also be burned" pic.twitter.com/zwg8ZOnR9p
— IANS (@ians_india) August 28, 2024
This further provoked several BJP leaders and state CMs to counter the statement and lambast Mamata Banerjee for her incendiary comments. Reacting sharply to her controversial remarks, several BJP leaders intensified their demand for Banerjee’s resignation stating that such “anti-national comments isn’t the voice of someone holding a constitutional position”.
What state CMs and BJP leaders said about CM Mamata Banerjee
BJP MP and West Bengal BJP Vice President Saumitra Khan condemned the remarks on 29th August and expressed fear that the West Bengal CM would separate India from North-East. He said that Banerjee could do anything for politics and even accommodate terrorists and criminals for her position.
“I live in West Bengal and I fear that Mamata Banerjee will close the path to North East India by shutting down the (Chickens’) neck of India in the Siliguri portion by 2026 if the Government of India does not pay attention to it… She can do anything for politics… She will accommodate terrorists and criminals there for her politics. The Courts and the Indian government should see to this otherwise India would be in danger,” Khan said.
#WATCH | Delhi: On West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee's statement, BJP MP and West Bengal BJP Vice President Saumitra Khan says, "I live in West Bengal and I fear that Mamata Banerjee will close the path to North East India by shutting down the (Chickens') neck of India in the… pic.twitter.com/NprFzQDfIo
— ANI (@ANI) August 29, 2024
Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi also condemned the threatening remarks made by CM Banerjee. “Mamata ji, who gave you the right to make objectionable statements about Odisha? Odisha is a peaceful state, and the people here are responsible and aware. The people of Odisha will never accept your hateful attitude, negative comments, and insensitive attitude towards our state. Without giving justice to the victim of a heinous crime, the vindictive comments you are making are dangerous for the country. Please stay away from such statements. Remain calm,” he said on X.
He also condemned the Bengal CM for failing to take action against the culprits in the Kolkata doctor’s rape and murder case.
ଓଡ଼ିଶା ସମ୍ପର୍କରେ ଏଭଳି ଆପତ୍ତିଜନକ ଟିପ୍ପଣୀ ଦେବାପାଇଁ @MamataOfficial ଆପଣଙ୍କୁ ଏ ଅଧିକାର ଦେଲା କିଏ ?
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) August 28, 2024
ଓଡ଼ିଶା ଏକ ଶାନ୍ତିପ୍ରିୟ ରାଜ୍ୟ, ଓଡ଼ିଶାବାସୀ ମଧ୍ୟ ଦାୟିତ୍ୱବାନ ଏବଂ ସଚେତନ। ଆମ ରାଜ୍ୟ ଓଡ଼ିଶା ପ୍ରତି ଆପଣଙ୍କର ଏଭଳି ବିଦ୍ୱେଷ ଭାବ, ନକରାତ୍ମକ ମନ୍ତବ୍ୟ ଏବଂ ସମ୍ବେଦନହୀନ ମନୋଭାବକୁ ଆମ ଓଡ଼ିଶାବାସୀ କେବେବି ଗ୍ରହଣ… pic.twitter.com/SC4uVSS1nu
Their comments came after Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma lashed out at the TMC leader for speaking in divisive language which according to him, doesn’t behoove her post. He warned the West Bengal CM not to try burning the country with her “politics of failure”.
Sarma said, “Didi, how dare you threaten Assam? Don’t show us red eyes. Don’t even try to burn India with your politics of failure. It does not befit you to speak divisive language.”
दीदी, आपकी हिम्मत कैसे हुई असम को धमकाने की? हमें लाल आंखें मत दिखाइए। आपकी असफलता की राजनीति से भारत को जलाने की कोशिश भी मत कीजिए। आपको विभाजनकारी भाषा बोलना शोभा नहीं देता।
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) August 28, 2024
দিদি, আপনার এতো সাহস কীভাবে হলো যে আপনি অসমকে ধমকি দিচ্ছেন? আমাদের রক্তচক্ষু দেখাবেন না। আপনার অসফলতার… pic.twitter.com/k194lajS8s
Union Minister Giriraj Singh interacted with the media criticising CM Mamata Banerjee for her remarks. Giriraj Singh compared her to North Korea’s Supreme Leader Kim Jong-Un and said Mamata can’t tolerate her opposition just like the North Korean leader. “This can’t be the language of a democratic person, of a Chief Minister. North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un doesn’t tolerate his Opposition. Similarly, Mamata Banerjee doesn’t tolerate the words of her Opposition,” he said.
The video of his comments is making rounds over social media.
बंगाल में ममता बनर्जी हार चुकी हैं, अपनी लोकप्रियता खो चुकी हैं इसलिए वे असंवैधानिक बातें बोल रही हैं, संघीय ढांचा को तोड़ रही हैं बोले केंद्रीय मंत्री गिरिराज सिंह@girirajsinghbjp #bihar #Biharnews pic.twitter.com/Kqo52V1cw5
— FirstBiharJharkhand (@firstbiharnews) August 29, 2024
Shehzad Poonawala, BJP spokesperson, said on Thursday, 29th August, that CM Mamata Banerjee was disrespecting demonstrators and doctors by claiming that demanding justice is the same as inciting trouble. Poonawala went on to say that nobody in West Bengal is safe, except criminals. He also attacked the INDI alliance’s leaders, Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav, for Mamata’s statement on burning Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Assam, Northeast, and Odisha, and asked whether they would challenge Mamata about it.
Mamata Banerjee’s statements are there for all to see & decipher
— Shehzad Jai Hind (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Shehzad_Ind) August 29, 2024
Isn’t it a fact that not just her but her minister, MPs & Kolkata police has threatened doctors, Citizens & ordinary folks demanding justice
Udayan Guha threatened to break fingers
Arup Chakraborthy says women… pic.twitter.com/bFqket8DK0
Telangana BJP President G Kishan Reddy posted, “INDI alliance member Mamata Banerjee’s statement is not only reckless but dangerously divisive. Such incendiary rhetoric is utterly unacceptable from an elected leader who should be working to unite and uplift her state, not sowing seeds of fear and discord. Stop this dangerous fear-mongering and instead focus on delivering good governance and addressing the real concerns of the people.”
INDI alliance member Mamata Banerjee's statement is not only reckless but dangerously divisive. Such incendiary rhetoric is utterly unacceptable from an elected leader who should be working to unite and uplift her state, not sowing seeds of fear and discord.
— G Kishan Reddy (@kishanreddybjp) August 29, 2024
Stop this dangerous… https://t.co/RZxPYC8PBv
Earlier, Union Minister and Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar also wrote a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah in which he slammed Mamata Banerjee for inciting violence in Kolkata.
The letter written by Majumdar read, “CM Mamata Banerjee, during her address to the Student Wing of TMC, today in Kolkata shamelessly incited gathering, declaring, ‘I never sought revenge, but now, do what needs to be done.’ This is nothing less than a blatant endorsement of revenge politics from the highest office in the state.”
CM Mamata Banerjee shamelessly makes anti-national remarks today, saying, "Remember, if Bengal burns, then Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Delhi will also burn."
— Dr. Sukanta Majumdar (@DrSukantaBJP) August 28, 2024
This isn’t the voice of someone holding a constitutional position; it's the voice of an anti-national. pic.twitter.com/dFBzR0LXT4
BJP leader and party’s social media head Amit Malviya wrote, “A cornered Mamata Banerjee has declared war on the people of West Bengal, who are holding her to account in the brutal rape and murder of a young lady doctor at RG Kar Medical College & Hospital. The deceased could have been our sister or daughter but Mamata wants more blood.”
Malviya added, “Once a proponent of the ‘Bodol noy, Bodla Chai’ mantra, Mamata Banerjee now brazenly shifted her stance, openly calling for the very vengeance, she once purported to abhor.”
A cornered Mamata Banerjee has declared war on the people of West Bengal, who are holding her to account in the brutal rape and murder of a young lady doctor at RG Kar Medical College & Hospital. The deceased could have been our sister or daughter but Mamata wants more blood…… pic.twitter.com/O5523Pgh2G
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) August 28, 2024
It is worth noting that the West Bengal government, led by Mamata Banerjee, is under increasing pressure from civil society, doctors, students, political parties, and the general public to resign for failing to maintain law and order, particularly in the aftermath of the RG Kar Hospital rape and murder case.
