West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, during her address in the West Bengal Assembly on Tuesday, hit out at the central government and BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government for poor management at Maha Kumbh Mela, happening in UP’s Prayagraj. “Maha Kumbh has turned into ‘Mrityu Kumbh,” Mamata Banerjee remarked in the Bengal assembly on Tuesday.
“I respect Maha Kumbh; I respect the holy Ganga Maa. But there is no planning. How many people have recovered? For the rich, the VIP, there are systems available to get camps for as high as ₹1 lakh. For the poor, there are no provisions at Kumbh. Stampede occurrence is common in a ‘mela,’ but it is crucial to manage efficient logistics. What planning did you make?” said Banerjee, slamming the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath-led government.
Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee also challenged the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to substantiate allegations of her having links with Bangladeshi fundamentalists, adding that she would step down if the party is able to prove so.
Mamata Banerjee said she will express her concerns to Prime Minister Narendra Modi about “his MLAs,” alleging her of “being hand in glove with Bangladeshi fundamentalists.”.
BJP using religion for its political interests fulfillment, claimed Mamata Banerjee while addressing in Bengal assembly, adding that “freedom of speech doesn’t allow BJP MLAs to spread hatred and divide people.”
Suvendu Adhikari, the leader of the opposition in West Bengal, on Saturday stated that anti-national activities are elevated in some regions of the state and accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for them. “There are some regions in Bengal where anti-national activities are soaring,” Adhikari said.
He further added, “In the last 2-3 months, many Bangladeshis, Rohingyas, and extremists have been captured by Assam Police and Jammu and Kashmir Police. There are 50-55 assembly constituencies and 30-35 police stations where the population has changed. Mamata Banerjee is directly responsible for this. She has failed as a home minister in Bengal.”
The BJP leaders in the state have been aiming at Mamata Banerjee, alleging her government of giving permits to illegal Bangladeshi immigrants and Rohingya migrants to settle in the state.
Big BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, voiced this allegation during the 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign in the state.
BJP legislators led by Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday performed a sit-in in the area of the West Bengal Assembly in disapproval against what they alleged is appeasement politics by the Mamata Banerjee government.
Raising slogans like ‘We don’t want a government that cannot stop vandalism of Puja pandals’, around 30 BJP MLAs blocked the stairs leading to the main entrance of the Assembly hall.
