On Manipur, Mamata targets BJP: ‘What happened to ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao? Beti jal rahi hain’

“I am happy that before 2024 (Lok Sabha polls) we have formed an alliance, INDIA. I do not care about any chair. We want the BJP ousted from power. The BJP is no longer tolerable,” Mamata told a mammoth gathering of TMC workers who assembled in Kolkata for the July 21 Martyrs’ Day Rally, the biggest event on the party’s political calendar.

“A new India will be created in 2024. Usko fek do, humko kursi nahi chahiye, hum ko shanti chahiye (Throw them out. We do not need a chair but we need peace),” Banerjee told the crowd. While speaking, the TMC chairperson broke into shouting slogans such as “Joy India”, “Joy Bangla”, “India aap aage badho hum sab aap ke saath hain (India you march forward, we are with you)”. and “INDIA jitega, Modi harega (INDIA will win and Modi will lose)” along with her party workers.

Speaking about the violence in Manipur, the TMC chief said West Bengal stands in solidarity with the “brothers and sisters of Manipur and the Northeast”. Referring to the video of two Kuki-Zomi women being paraded naked and sexually assaulted, Banerjee said, “Kahan gaya Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao? Aaj toh beti jal rahi hain (Where is ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’? At the moment, girls are burning). Today the honour of women is being snatched. This time women, mothers and sisters will throw you (BJP) out. We show solidarity with our brothers and sisters of Manipur and the Northeast. We have sent a delegation to Manipur too,” Banerjee said, adding, “The Centre sends teams to Bengal at the drop of a hat. But why has no team been sent to Manipur?”

The TMC chief also announced a “Delhi Chalo Abhiyan” on October 2. “The Centre has stopped funds for 100 days’ work (MNREGS) and other schemes. Thousands of crores of rupees are due. If the Centre does not pay us the money, we will go and sit on a dharna in Delhi. On October 2, on Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday, we will go for a dharna in Delhi,” Banerjee said.

The TMC chairperson, a significant chunk of whose speech was in Hindi, also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over price rise. “Modi ji zara socho. Dil ko bada banao (Modi ji please think, be large-hearted). The BJP only indulges in divisive politics. But please think of the price of petrol, about the hike in the price of essential commodities. Tomatoes are now Rs 120 per kg. Even farmers are distressed,” Banerjee said.

On the violence that erupted across the state during the panchayat elections, the TMC chief said deaths and killings are unwanted, adding that “sporadic incidents” took place.