Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday lashed out at the Narendra Modi government for further empowering the lieutenant-governor in Delhi while curbing the authority of the elected administration there.

In an interaction with journalists after the release of the Trinamul Congress’s manifesto for the Assembly polls, the Bengal chief minister said she felt “very bad”.

“Because of what happened today…. What we saw, powers of the chief minister (of Delhi) were curbed and the lieutenant-governor was made (more) powerful in Delhi. Then, what is the need for an elected government?” Mamata asked, apparently referring to the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

Moved by the Union home ministry under Amit Shah, the legislation gives overarching power to the lieutenant-governor of Delhi.

According to the legislation, the “government” in Delhi would mean the lieutenant-governor in the context of any law to be made by the Assembly.

“That means the Modi government… I’m sorry to say this, Prime Minister, I respect your chair… but it is very unfortunate. That you want the lieutenant-governor to be more powerful than the elected government. I condemn this. I think every democratic citizen of this country will oppose this,” Mamata said.

“I support (Delhi chief minister and AAP chief) Arvind Kejriwal’s elected government, but I cannot support nominated persons. Between elected and nominated persons, there are differences,” she added.

“Nominated persons… yes, we respect the chair as that, too, is a constitutional post. But please see to it that democratic governments are not made weak.”

The legislation makes it mandatory for Delhi’s state government to take the opinion of the lieutenant-governor before any executive action in the national capital.

The Trinamul Congress chief went on to attack the BJP over a number of issues, pertaining to how the nation was being run under it.

Yet again, she accused the BJP of trying to exert undue influence to win the Bengal Assembly polls.

“The BJP is a party akin to a most high-load virus, playing all nasty, dirty games. We don’t want to do it. We want to play a fair game. Everybody knows who is running the Election Commission…,” she said.

“Who is guiding them (the commission)? The Union home minister. Who is he? A BJP leader. What has he been doing? Interfering in every business (of the commission),” added the chief minister.

She reiterated her allegation that railways minister Piyush Goyal was trying to pack trains with hordes of lootera (looters) from around the country and send them to Bengal.

“I will complain to the Election Commission. I came to know that the railway minister told officials that all the lootera, from everywhere, will come via trains here to rob votes. This is not correct. Borders should be sealed. The elections should be free and fair, for which we would appeal to the commission,” said the Trinamul chief.

Asked about the communal line of the campaign in Bengal by Hindutva hardliner and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, Mamata said she wouldn’t take lessons on religion from the likes of him.

“Our Durga Puja started here thousands of years ago. Where was Yogi (Adityanath) then? We will not take any lessons from Yogi. Tell him to tackle the problems with women’s safety (in his state) first,” she said.

Adityanath has been trying to attack her government here over law and order, while being conspicuous in his silence on the same in his own state, especially in terms of crimes against women.

“What happened in Hathras? What happens (in Uttar Pradesh) to Dalit girls, children…. He didn’t take any action there, but he comes and talks big. Bengal is a peaceful state, tell him not to bring that kind of politics here. We know religion better than them,” said Mamata of the Hindutva poster boy. “We will not take any lessons from them on the dirtiness and hatred they believe in. We believe in the real Indian religion and philosophy.”

The Bengal chief minister vowed to take the saffron bull by the horns, fighting the BJP politically to the finish.

“The ultopalta (topsy-turvy) things the BJP says… the unfortunate things they say. Scandals, really,” she said.

“Let the BJP get as many of its leaders as it pleases, I will not stop them. It has brought thousands of its leaders from elsewhere already. From their yogis (monks) to bhogis (hedonists), who is not here already?” she asked. “I will fight this politically…. Khela Hobe (A game is afoot), till the very end.”