Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday asserted that the BJP was not going to retain power at the Centre after the general election of 2024 and lambasted the party over the way it allegedly had the Opposition hounded by central probe agencies, accusing the saffron regime of being more torturous than the British Raj.

“The British subjected us to so much torture, but not to this extent…. This level of terror was not there ever, before this,” said the Bengal chief minister at an event of Titagarh Wagons in the afternoon.

This was the second time in three days after the Enforcement Directorate had arrested industries minister Partha Chatterjee that Mamata came out all guns blazing, in an apparent bid to boost the morale of the Trinamul Congress’s rank and file and to dissuade investors from steering clear of Bengal.

“Had I not personally been confident, I would not have said this…. 2024-ey BJP ashbey na, ashbey na, ashbey na (in 2024, the BJP will not come, will not come, will not come),” said the Trinamul chairperson, thumping the podium thrice. “What the arithmetic would be, why it would be so, how it would happen, where will all these (Lok Sabha) seats go… I cannot say.”

Since the arrest of one of the most senior members of her party and the state government, many Trinamul seniors have admitted in private that some jitters crept into multiple tiers of the ruling dispensation.

“She (Mamata) is giving the party a pep talk and pleading with investors at the same time. She can neither afford to allow shoulders to droop among the party’s workers and leaders nor can she have investors staying away from Bengal,” said a senior Trinamul leader.

The chief minister urged all, especially industrialists, not to be afraid.

Mamata went on to condemn the Narendra Modi government over its alleged misuse of central agencies.

“Where there is need for (probes by central) agencies, let them do it, I have nothing to say. But where there is no need, misusing agencies to spoil perceptions of other parties… (while) looting money themselves (the BJP), robbing the country. Remember, it is not good for the nation,” said Mamata.

“Suspension (of Opposition MPs) for even trying to speak (in Parliament). Cases every single day, in courts…. No work, nothing, PILs (public interest litigations) being filed every single day,” she added. “Nothing else, use three-four agencies to intimidate the (Opposition-led state) governments, silence them. They broke it (the state government) in Maharashtra, and plan to do so in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand… Bengal too. But I have said it’s not that easy.”

The chief minister asserted yet again that if anyone committed a mistake and it was proven by law, there would be action and punishment.

“But before the judges can pronounce their verdict, there is a media trial against people,” she said, holding sections of the media responsible for an alleged malicious campaign against her party and the government. Since Chatterjee’s arrest, there have been apparent attempts by Mamata and Trinamul to distance themselves from him. Mamata suggested that her personal probity was sacrosanct.

Mamata said senior minister and Calcutta mayor Firhad Hakim had told her that people had been spotted roaming her residential locality suspiciously in the early hours of the mornings, asking local people where she stayed.

“Everyone knows my home (30B Harish Chatterjee Street), aay na (why don’t you just come),” said Mamata, apparently referring to central agencies.