NEW DELHI: Amid reports of infighting, Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hit back at critics, asserting that the TMC is "not for its leaders but it is for its workers." Speaking hours after the TMC expelled two MLAs for 'anti-party activities', Mamata declared that the party is "better off" without the rebel MLAs.
"There may be some people who take advantage of situations, but those who thought such people were their assets have left, and we are better off without them. We will rebuild the party anew. TMC is not for its leaders; it is for its workers. As long as the workers remain with us, that is what matters. For so long, some people enjoyed power, and now that we have lost, they immediately seem to have reached an understanding with another party," she said, as quoted by news agency ANI.
"TMC will become even stronger. Today, those who are making big claims that party leaders are not standing by the workers are spreading false information. Complete lawlessness is prevailing- even Hitler did not do such things. There are no words left to describe this situation, because when language itself fails, it means oppression has crossed all limits. You cannot weaken TMC by intimidating or bribing a few MLAs and MPs; in fact, this is only making the party stronger," she added.
Ramping up her attack on the Suvendu Adhikari-led West Bengal government, Mamata claimed that TMC workers were not being allowed to step outside, and alleged that the party's offices were being vandalised. Calling the attack on party MP and her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee, "shocking", the former Bengal CM alleged that doctors and hospitals were "instructed not to provide treatment."
"The way you assaulted the MP of the second-largest opposition party is shocking. Doctors were called, yet hospitals were allegedly instructed not to provide treatment. What kind of absurd and authoritarian conduct is this?... The people at Belle Vue used to bow at my feet. You had close ties and dealings with the Birlas and the Lodhas, and you used to bow before them... Our Mayor took care of everything. Six months ago, we renewed Apollo's license," she said.
Mamata further urged students to protest, alleging "many discrepancies" in the NEET exam. "NEET exam had many discrepancies; students are the spine of the society and must protest," she said.
Mamata's comments came as the TMC faces its biggest crisis in a decade after the poll drubbing in the West Bengal assembly elections and internal discord within the party. Furthermore, party leaders Abhishek Banerjee and Kunal Ghosh were targeted in Bengal, with the TMC alleging BJP involvement.
