Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee on Saturday delivered a sharp rebuttal to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's criticism of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee regarding the Anandapur fire incident. The TMC MP from Diamond Harbour accused the BJP of politicizing the tragedy and attempting to gain political mileage from it.
Countering Allegations with Historical Parallels
While addressing the media at Kolkata airport before departing for Delhi to attend the Union budget session, Abhishek Banerjee asserted that the state government had taken all necessary measures following the devastating fire. He firmly rejected BJP allegations concerning one of the owners of the affected food outlet accompanying the chief minister on a foreign tour.
"Just because he accompanied the CM, we must keep in mind that Mehul Choksi and Nirav Modi had accompanied Modi and other BJP bigwigs in visits abroad," Banerjee stated pointedly. "Should Modi be held accountable for sharing photos with Choksi and Nirav Modi?"
Contextualizing the Political Exchange
The exchange comes after Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the Baruipur warehouse fire incident, which claimed at least 27 lives with several others still missing. Shah questioned Banerjee's alleged connections to the Wow! Momo owner and criticized the delayed response from state authorities.
Abhishek Banerjee dismissed these allegations as "baseless" and defended the state government's engagement with industrialists. "As industrialists, the representatives of the state government will not go, then who will?" he questioned rhetorically.
Broadening the Accountability Debate
The TMC leader expanded the scope of accountability by referencing incidents in other states. "If Mamata was responsible for the Anandapur incident, then who was accountable for incidents in Goa and Indore?" he challenged.
Banerjee claimed that "The prime minister is responsible for all those incidents," citing specific tragedies: "It should be noted that more than 20 people died in a fire in a nightclub in Goa. Many people have died after drinking 'contaminated' water in Indore. Many others are sick. Modi is responsible in all cases!"
Emphasizing Collective Responsibility
The TMC MP advocated for a collaborative approach to disaster prevention, acknowledging that "mistakes happen" while stressing that "everyone should work together to prevent them." He explained the practical limitations of government oversight: "It is not possible for the government to see the condition of a private warehouse. The government got the news and acted with considerable prowess."
Banerjee concluded with a firm commitment to justice: "No matter how big an industrialist, action will be taken" against anyone found involved in the Anandapur incident.
