Synopsis
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has addressed the assembly, rejecting allegations made by Suvendu Adhikari about her terrorist links with Jammu & Kashmir and Bangladesh, stating she will resign if proven true. Banerjee plans to write to PM Modi regarding the accusations and criticized BJP for maligning her with misinformation. Banerjee also commented on the management of the Mahakumbh event.
PTIWest Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said on the floor of the assembly that she will resign from her post if the allegations against her, made by leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari of having “terror links with Jammu & Kashmir and Bangladeshi terrorists”, are proved.
The Trinamool chief said she will write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the statement made by BJP leader Adhikari. Banerjee said she has been maligned by Adhikari. “I have been maligned. It has been said by the LoP that I have links with the terrorists of Jammu & Kashmir and Bangladesh. If you (LoP) can prove these allegations, I will resign from the post of chief minister. I will write to the prime minister on this matter. The PM will tell me if I am a terrorist,” she said in the House.
Banerjee alleged that BJP is indulging in “mis-campaign” and “maligning act”. “I don’t compromise on my self-respect. You cannot cross the ‘lakshman rekha’,” she said.
Hitting out at Adhikari, Banerjee said, “In the video outside the assembly, the LoP said he was speaking for Hindu religion, so he was suspended. Hindu religion is not so small and restricted. I never speak about caste, creed and religion. I am also from a Brahmin family and I learnt Chandipath from my father, who was a freedom fighter.
“When the Opposition is blaming that Saraswati Puja wasn’t allowed here, I must say, Saraswati Puja happens in every household and every locality. One stray incident happens and you are maligning Hinduism,” she said.
Banerjee said “Mahakumbh has been turned into ‘Mrityu Kumbh‘ (death kumbh)” due to “inappropriate crowd management and lack of planning” by authorities. “I will not call it Mahakumbh. It has now become a ‘Mrityu Kumbh’. I respect Mahakumbh, I respect Ganga Ma. However, there was no planning for the event. 30 people died. How many dead bodies were immersed in the river? Thousands have died. Fire has broken out 8 times, too. They have hidden hundreds of bodies to bring down toll,” she said.
Reacting strongly to Banerjee’s ‘Mrityu Kumbh’ remark, Adhikari said: “This anti-Hindu stance should be taken into account.”
( Originally published on Feb 18, 2025 )
