Mamata Banerjee Declares War Against BJP: Calls for Opposition Unity on Tagore Jayanti

Trinamool Congress (TMC) National President Mamata Banerjee has made a significant announcement on the birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, launching a political offensive against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Banerjee appealed to opposition parties to unite against the BJP, alleging that a "reign of terror" has commenced in Bengal. She stated that her moral and political struggle against the current regime has officially begun. On top of that, she extended an invitation to NGOs and other social organizations to join this movement against the BJP's policies.

Allegations of Dictatorship and Denial of Permissions

Mamata Banerjee alleged that she was denied permission to celebrate Rabindranath Tagore's birth anniversary at three specific locations: Kalighat crossing, Muktadal, and in front of the Fire Brigade station. Questioning the authorities' decision to block these venues, she decided to hold the celebrations outside the party office instead. Banerjee described this denial as "pure dictatorship" and an attempt to silence the TMC.

Harassment of Workers and Security Concerns

The TMC chief accused the BJP of oppressing her party workers, while she highlighted the plight of a 92-year-old Dalit woman residing with her, who was allegedly forced to leave her home and seek shelter elsewhere. Banerjee also claimed that a newlywed bride in that family was threatened by the BJP and forced to vacate her house. She further alleged that hooliganism is occurring outside the residences of various party leaders and workers while the police remain silent. Contrasting this with her own tenure, she noted that after coming to power in 2011, she ensured no violence occurred and even provided her own bulletproof car and Z+ security to the outgoing Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya. She criticized the BJP for immediately withdrawing her security and discontinuing several services upon assuming power.

Opposition Unity and Legal Strategy

Banerjee revealed that she has been in contact with several national opposition leaders, while she confirmed discussions with Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Uddhav Thackeray, and Tejashwi Yadav. She noted that Akhilesh Yadav visited her personally, and she has also spoken with Hemant Soren and Arvind Kejriwal, while on the legal front, she mentioned that prominent lawyers such as Kapil Sibal, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Prashant Bhushan, and Menaka Guruswamy are supporting her. She reiterated that with leaders like Kalyan Banerjee and her own legal background, the party is well-equipped to fight this battle in the courts.

Targeting BJP over Mahua Moitra Incident

Addressing the recent incident involving MP Mahua Moitra, Banerjee alleged that Moitra was harassed while boarding a flight from Kolkata to Delhi. She claimed that the individuals responsible for the harassment had come to Kolkata to rig the elections and were returning. According to Banerjee, Moitra cancelled her trip and returned after the incident to avoid a verbal confrontation, while the TMC leader asserted that they possess video evidence and all necessary proof of the incident, reassuring her supporters that the party would fight this matter decisively.

Mamata Banerjee concluded by affirming her readiness to lead this struggle, citing her professional background as a lawyer. She maintained that the TMC knows how to fight these battles and won't be intimidated by the current political climate.