Mamata Banerjee on Saturday drew a distinction between her governance model and that of Narendra Modi, saying her government was “for all”, and launched an attack on the Centre for looking after only self-interest.
The chief minister’s stress on the contrasting styles of governance came at a time the Bengal chief minister is playing a lead role in bringing together non-BJP parties for a united fight in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
“When I run the government, I am for all. I am not like the BJP, which always looks after only their interest…. I get Trinamul Congress men arrested if they are in the wrong. Please don’t forget this,” Mamata said during a virtual rally from Calcutta on the foundation day of the Trinamul students’ wing.
Although the programme was meant for students supporting her party, Mamata scaled up the scope of her address — occasionally switching to Hindi — as she spoke extensively on issues of national interest, besides talking about her government’s plans for youths in the state.
The stress on the apparent inclusive character of her government came in reference to the alleged post-poll violence in Bengal, which is now being probed by the CBI and a special investigation team of the state police following a high court order that took cognisance of a report submitted by the National Human Rights Commission.
“The BJP has made all commissions, including the National Human Rights Commission, political units and all the members (of the commission) are members of the BJP…. I am saying that the person who submitted reports in the court is a BJP man,” Mamata said, adding that her government had filed chargesheets in all cases of post-poll violence.
Mamata wondered why the NHRC was not sent to Uttar Pradesh to probe allegations of atrocities against women.
Suggesting that the Centre was going about in a planned manner to demean her government, Mamata also broached the controversy over questions on the post-poll violence in competitive exams conducted by the UPSC for recruitments in central forces.
“It never happened earlier in our country. I demand the resignation of the person who set the question papers, and he should beg pardon from the people of our country,” she said.
Mamata broadened her argument and slammed the Centre for using the Enforcement Directorate to settle political scores.
Within hours of the ED sending summons to Trinamul all-India general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and his wife in connection with a money laundering and coal scam case, Mamata said: “When the BJP government in Delhi cannot compete with us in politics, they use agencies.”
All these developments are taking place under BJP rule, Mamata stressed, referring to the Centre’s constant frictions with other non-BJP chief ministers like Uddhav Thackeray of Maharashtra and Arvind Kejriwal of Delhi and indicating that the federal structure of the country had been demolished.
“The federal structure has gone. They have taken everything (rights) of the state governments. I want to call a conference with all the chief ministers regarding the federal structure…. Everyone is facing the injustice of the Centre,” Mamata said in Hindi.
She also referred to the national monetisation plan of the Centre and accused the BJP of selling the country.
“The government is trying to sell off the country. Railways, airports, PSUs.… They want to sell everything off. Can you sell the soil of the country?” Mamata asked.
Keeping with the wide-angle theme of her address, Mamata attacked the Modi government for its response to the unfolding situation in Afghanistan since the Taliban captured the seat of power in Kabul.
She spoke up for the entire country, not just Bengal. “Why are all the people of my country who are stuck in Afghanistan still not back? What is your policy? Where are you standing now (on the Afghanistan issue)?” Mamata asked.
