Mamata Banerjee Issues Stark Warning to Trinamool Workers Ahead of Bengal Polls
In a fiery election rally held in Khandaghosh, East Burdwan, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee delivered a stern caution to Trinamool Congress workers on Sunday. She explicitly warned that "many will be detained and arrested" starting from Sunday night, urging party members to exercise vigilance and intelligence in the lead-up to the assembly elections.
Allegations of BJP Harassment and Intimidation Tactics
Banerjee accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of engaging in systematic harassment and intimidation of Bengal's voters, including herself. "They know they will lose the election. That is why they have changed everything here," she asserted, linking these actions to BJP's anticipated electoral defeat. The Chief Minister emphasized that during the election period, all operations fall under the purview of the Election Commission, stating, "Remember, everything is under EC during this election - nothing is in our hands."
She called for resilience among her supporters, advising them to "be vigilant for another 15-21 days" before the political battle intensifies. Banerjee confidently predicted victory, vowing to "fight, and we will win again - and we will ask BJP how does it feel (to lose a poll)."
Strong Opposition to Delimitation and NRC Implementation
Turning to national issues, Banerjee voiced fierce opposition to the delimitation bill that the Central government is expected to introduce in the Lok Sabha this month. She framed it as a conspiracy, declaring, "They are conspiring to break Bengal into three parts through delimitation." The Chief Minister further warned that this would be followed by the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC), leading to the establishment of detention camps.
Citing data from Assam, she highlighted that "out of 19 lakh people who were sent to detention camps, 13 lakh were Hindus and 6 lakh were Muslims," pledging that her administration would never permit such camps in West Bengal.
Criticism of Electoral Roll Revision and Security Measures
Banerjee also targeted the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll, labeling it as "destruction" and "the biggest scam." She questioned the exclusion of voters who participated in the last Lok Sabha elections, asking pointedly, "Is everyone an infiltrator?" This critique extended to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's re-election, which she noted was supported by voters on the 2024 roll.
Additionally, the Chief Minister raised concerns about the harassment of women during security checks. She recounted incidents, including one involving the wife of actor Kanchan Mullick and an elderly woman in her Bhowanipore constituency, where personal belongings were allegedly inspected in a demeaning manner. "Cars can be checked, but why bags? This is obscene," Banerjee remarked, urging authorities to respect women's dignity.
Allegations of Bias in Rally Permissions
Banerjee further alleged bias in the permissions granted for political rallies. She revealed that her own rally in Khandaghosh faced delayed approval, contrasting it with swift permissions for the Prime Minister's events. "Why won’t you give permission for my rally if the ground is not booked?" she questioned, suggesting that recent administrative appointments might be influencing such decisions. Despite this, she affirmed her commitment to non-partisan governance, stating, "I respect all officers and work in a non-partisan way."
