The Kolkata rape case has intensified outrage in the state of West Bengal against the incumbent CM Mamata Banerjee. On the day of the ‘Bangla Bandh’ that was organised by the opposition BJP on 28th August for 12 hours, CM Mamata Banerjee made inflammatory remarks while claiming that the unrest in West Bengal could have far-reaching consequences beyond the state.

The West Bengal CM alleged that PM Narendra Modi was using his party to start a fire in West Bengal over the Kolkata woman doctor rape and murder incident. She warned that if Bengal burns, other states including Assam, North-East, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Delhi too shall burn.

‘Bangla Bandh’ was organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party on 28th August in protest against police action against students who earlier demanded the removal of Mamata Banerjee from her position given her failure to provide justice to the 31-year-old doctor who was brutally raped and murdered on 9th August. It was reported that several BJP workers and leaders were attacked, targeted, and detained across the state during the Bandh.

On the same day, Mamata Banerjee addressed a public event that was organised to mark the foundation day of the Trinamool Congress’s student wing. During her address, CM Banerjee warned that the unrest in Bengal could have far-reaching consequences beyond the state. 

She went further to blame Prime Minister Narendra Modi and accused his party of fueling unrest in Bengal. Mamata Banerjee brazened it out saying, “Mr. Modi, you’re using your party to start a fire here. If you burn Bengal, Assam, North-East, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Delhi too shall burn! We will topple your chair.” Banerjee further stated, “Some people think this is Bangladesh. Please remember, I love Bangladesh, they speak like us, and their culture is the same as ours, but Bangladesh is a separate nation, and India is a separate nation.” 

This further provoked several BJP leaders and state CMs to counter the statement and lambast Mamata Banerjee for her incendiary comments. Reacting sharply to her controversial remarks, several BJP leaders intensified their demand for Banerjee’s resignation stating that such “anti-national comments isn’t the voice of someone holding a constitutional position”. 

What state CMs and BJP leaders said about CM Mamata Banerjee

BJP MP and West Bengal BJP Vice President Saumitra Khan condemned the remarks on 29th August and expressed fear that the West Bengal CM would separate India from North-East. He said that Banerjee could do anything for politics and even accommodate terrorists and criminals for her position.

“I live in West Bengal and I fear that Mamata Banerjee will close the path to North East India by shutting down the (Chickens’) neck of India in the Siliguri portion by 2026 if the Government of India does not pay attention to it… She can do anything for politics… She will accommodate terrorists and criminals there for her politics. The Courts and the Indian government should see to this otherwise India would be in danger,” Khan said.

Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi also condemned the threatening remarks made by CM Banerjee. “Mamata ji, who gave you the right to make objectionable statements about Odisha? Odisha is a peaceful state, and the people here are responsible and aware. The people of Odisha will never accept your hateful attitude, negative comments, and insensitive attitude towards our state. Without giving justice to the victim of a heinous crime, the vindictive comments you are making are dangerous for the country. Please stay away from such statements. Remain calm,” he said on X.

He also condemned the Bengal CM for failing to take action against the culprits in the Kolkata doctor’s rape and murder case.

Their comments came after Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma lashed out at the TMC leader for speaking in divisive language which according to him, doesn’t behoove her post. He warned the West Bengal CM not to try burning the country with her “politics of failure”. 

Sarma said, “Didi, how dare you threaten Assam? Don’t show us red eyes. Don’t even try to burn India with your politics of failure. It does not befit you to speak divisive language.”

Union Minister Giriraj Singh interacted with the media criticising CM Mamata Banerjee for her remarks. Giriraj Singh compared her to North Korea’s Supreme Leader Kim Jong-Un and said Mamata can’t tolerate her opposition just like the North Korean leader. “This can’t be the language of a democratic person, of a Chief Minister. North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un doesn’t tolerate his Opposition. Similarly, Mamata Banerjee doesn’t tolerate the words of her Opposition,” he said.

The video of his comments is making rounds over social media.

Shehzad Poonawala, BJP spokesperson, said on Thursday, 29th August, that CM Mamata Banerjee was disrespecting demonstrators and doctors by claiming that demanding justice is the same as inciting trouble. Poonawala went on to say that nobody in West Bengal is safe, except criminals. He also attacked the INDI alliance’s leaders, Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav, for Mamata’s statement on burning Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Assam, Northeast, and Odisha, and asked whether they would challenge Mamata about it.

Telangana BJP President G Kishan Reddy posted, “INDI alliance member Mamata Banerjee’s statement is not only reckless but dangerously divisive. Such incendiary rhetoric is utterly unacceptable from an elected leader who should be working to unite and uplift her state, not sowing seeds of fear and discord. Stop this dangerous fear-mongering and instead focus on delivering good governance and addressing the real concerns of the people.”

Earlier, Union Minister and Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar also wrote a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah in which he slammed Mamata Banerjee for inciting violence in Kolkata.

The letter written by Majumdar read, “CM Mamata Banerjee, during her address to the Student Wing of TMC, today in Kolkata shamelessly incited gathering, declaring, ‘I never sought revenge, but now, do what needs to be done.’ This is nothing less than a blatant endorsement of revenge politics from the highest office in the state.”

BJP leader and party’s social media head Amit Malviya wrote, “A cornered Mamata Banerjee has declared war on the people of West Bengal, who are holding her to account in the brutal rape and murder of a young lady doctor at RG Kar Medical College & Hospital. The deceased could have been our sister or daughter but Mamata wants more blood.”

Malviya added, “Once a proponent of the ‘Bodol noy, Bodla Chai’ mantra, Mamata Banerjee now brazenly shifted her stance, openly calling for the very vengeance, she once purported to abhor.” 

It is worth noting that the West Bengal government, led by Mamata Banerjee, is under increasing pressure from civil society, doctors, students, political parties, and the general public to resign for failing to maintain law and order, particularly in the aftermath of the RG Kar Hospital rape and murder case.


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