West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced on Saturday that she would file a legal case against Union Home Minister Amit Shah over what she termed his 'violent remarks' targeting Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers. Addressing a gathering in Hooghly, she said, 'We are going to file a legal case against Amit Shah for his violent remarks. As Home Minister, he cannot make such comments.'
Amit Shah's Statements
This development comes after Amit Shah asserted that voters in West Bengal would 'reply to bombs and bullets with votes' and bring the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to power in the upcoming assembly elections. Speaking at a rally in Birbhum district, Shah said, 'The goons of TMC will no longer be able to terrorise the people of Bengal with their bomb blasts. The people of Bengal will respond to bombs with ballots and to fear with trust.'
Sharpening his rhetoric, Shah added, 'Let the people bid adieu to the Mamata government. The BJP will then take up the task of hanging the syndicate and cut-money promoters upside down to make them straight,' alleging entrenched corruption and a 'mafia raj' under TMC rule. He also issued a warning ahead of polling, stating, 'I advise TMC goons to stay in their homes on April 23… else we will pick them up one by one on May 4 and throw them in jail,' while claiming that BJP workers had faced prolonged violence under the current regime.
Mamata Banerjee's Response
In response, Banerjee targeted Shah's 'hang upside down' warning directed at TMC workers, asserting that the BJP's 'forceful approach' would fail to resonate with Bengal's voters. 'What kind of language is a Home Minister using? To say you will hang people upside down post-election is unacceptable. With this mindset, you will never win Bengal—never!' she exclaimed.
Election Background
The polling for Phase I of the assembly elections concluded at 6 pm on Thursday, with West Bengal recording a significantly higher voter turnout of 91.78 per cent, according to the Election Commission. The second phase of polling is scheduled for April 29, with counting set for May 4.
The escalating war of words reflects the intense political rivalry in the state as the BJP seeks to unseat the TMC government.
