Underlining the need for the Opposition parties to “unite now against the BJP”, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday extended her support to her Delhi counterpart and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal against a Central ordinance that seeks to control appointments and transfers of bureaucrats in the National Capital, saying the Trinamool Congress (TMC) will oppose the Bill in both Houses of Parliament. After an hour-long meeting with Kejriwal, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, and senior AAP leaders Sanjay Singh, Raghav Chadha, and Atishi at state secretariat Nabanna, Banerjee said: “If we do not unite now, the people of this country will not forgive us. This government (at Centre) is of the bulldozer, by the bulldozer and for the bulldozer. This country will exist only if democracy exists.” “I was told as how the Centre is trying to impose an ordinance against the Supreme Court's order. We have a good opportunity to defeat them (BJP) in Rajya Sabha. Our party will give them (AAP) full support. Today, they are attacking the Delhi government, they may attack others tomorrow,” the West Bengal CM said, adding, “Only the Supreme Court can save this country now”. Kejriwal, who along with his party leaders is on a nationwide tour to garner support against the Centre's move, said, “When we came to power in Delhi, they snatched all our powers by releasing a simple notification. We fought against that in the court for eight years. When the Supreme Court ordered in favour of us, they imposed an ordinance on the day when the court was going on vacation. They are making a mockery of democracy." He added, “They (BJP) employ three tactics when they are defeated in a state. Either they purchase MLAs to form the government or use the CBI, the Enforcement Directorate, or other central agencies against that party. They also misuse the law to stop the other party from doing work. They are basically anti-democracy and never think of the country's future. If we can defeat them in the Rajya Sabha, it may become semi-final before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections." This fight, he claimed, was not just that of the AAP but of the country. Underlining a “relationship” between the people of Bengal and Punjab since the Independence struggle, Bhagwant Mann said, “The people of Bengal and Punjab participated in the country's freedom movement together. That relationship exists even today. We have to fight this new battle together. We have to save this country since they (BJP) can do anything to make Opposition leaders switch sides or defeat them. If they do such things then what is the use of having elected government in states.” Criticising the alleged manhandling of former Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia by the CBI, Kejriwal said, “They can't do this to a deputy chief minister. He is not a convict. The allegations have not been proved yet." Mamata Banerjee added to this, “They did this with us also. When they came to the house of (TMC MP and her nephew) Abhishek (Banerjee) to serve summons, they threatened with consequences if he did not comply. What do they think? We are not bonded labourers. They cannot do whatever they want." ये लड़ाई केवल दिल्ली वालों की लड़ाई नहीं है। ये लड़ाई भारतीय जनतंत्र को बचाने की लड़ाई है, बाबा साहिब के दिये संविधान को बचाने की लड़ाई है, न्यायपालिका को बचाने की लड़ाई है। ये लड़ाई देश बचाने की लड़ाई है। इसमें सबके साथ की अपेक्षा करता हूँ। — Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) May 23, 2023 Reacting to the meeting between CM Banerjee and senior AAP functionaries, Leader of Opposition in Bengal Assembly and BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari said, "They are all corrupt. This is an alliance of corrupt parties.” His party colleague Samik Bhattacharya said, “These parties have no credibility. People have already decided that they will vote for stability.” From Kolkata, Kejriwal will fly to Mumbai to meet Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar and former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) chief Uddhav Thackeray to seek support against the ordinance.
