Chief minister Mamata Banerjee and Trinamul MP Abhishek Banerjee both tore into ex-judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay on Sunday, a day after he was seen clad in saffron and bowing before Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the BJP’s Siliguri rally.
A day after photos of Gangopadhyay’s public gesture went viral and prompted widespread criticism on social media, Mamata brought it up in her Brigade address on Sunday.
“The judiciary, I ask you this with folded hands. People go to you to seek justice, to seek justice for humanity. Kindly do not sit on the BJP’s chair while you judge. That won’t get any work done, and it hurts the people, hurts their hearts,” said Mamata.
The former Calcutta High Court judge, who joined the BJP after quitting the judiciary last week, on Saturday called for “no vote to Trinamul” in his maiden political speech from the BJP rally and sought President’s rule in Bengal earlier in the day.
Asked later, the former judge said: “I sought the blessings of Modiji.”
“I am not saying this to any individual. But their masks, you have seen...more dangerous than a keutey (monocled cobra). Occupying the chair as a keutey, outside, a gokhro (Indian cobra). Touching the feet to offer pronaam (obeisance), the babu,” she added.
Gangopadhyay was not seen touching Modi’s feet at the Siliguri rally. But he had bent halfway forward in the presence of a seated Modi, tightly grasping with both his hands the Prime Minister’s outstretched right palm in a gesture of obeisance. The ex-judge then touched his forehead to Modi’s palm as the latter beamed. This took place within four days of Gangopadhyay quitting the high court last Tuesday.
As a judge, Gangopadhyay had passed orders that resulted in 14 CBI probes, notably into alleged recruitment scams, and the arrest of four Trinamul MLAs (including two who were senior ministers).
On Sunday, Mamata questioned his judgments against the Trinamul dispensation.
“A lot of judgments delivered all this while... devoured jobs of thousands of young people. Now it’s your turn to stand trial. The people will judge you now, how you devoured that many jobs.... Clear statement. Too much need not be,” said the Trinamul chief.
Speaking before Mamata, her nephew and Trinamul national general secretary Abhishek also lashed out at Gangopadhyay.
“The bohiragawto (outsiders) coming from Delhi to make ‘Modi Ki Guarantee’ claims…. In India before Modi, thieves and murderers used to be sent to prison for their crimes. I am not going to say anything particularly about a (former) judge. But now, in Modi’s India, thieves and murders welcome judges with uttoriyo (ceremonial stole) into the BJP,” said the Diamond Harbour MP, who later announced the name of his protégé and Trinamul’s IT cell chief, Debangshu Bhattacharya, as the candidate for Tamluk, East Midnapore.
Bhattacharya is known to be a fierce critic of Gangopadhyay, who is likely to be fielded by the BJP from Tamluk too.
“The most corrupt people are seated by the Prime Minister next to him,” said Abhishek.
“Previously, judges used to send thieves and robbers to prison, now they (the thieves and robbers) welcome judges by garlanding them. That is Modi’s guarantee,” he added.
Once known for his prompt action and stern remarks in court, Gangopadhyay had received admiration from Bengal’s Opposition parties as a crusader against corruption in Bengal. Since he joined the BJP, the Congress and the Marxists have been critical.
