The West Bengal Chief Minister uses fiery rhetoric to frame the central government as an adversary of Bengal.
Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a blistering attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the State Assembly on Thursday, igniting a chaotic and physical confrontation between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In a strategic political move, Banerjee branded the national BJP leadership as “anti-Bengali” and accused them of being “chors” (thieves). The unprecedented chaos overshadowed the session’s stated purpose: a discussion on alleged atrocities against Bengali-speaking people in BJP-governed states.
As Banerjee rose to speak, BJP legislators erupted in protest, demanding an explanation for the earlier suspension of Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari. The TMC benches responded in kind, chanting “chor” slogans and accusing BJP members of “vote theft” and corruption. “BJP is a party of the corrupt, a party of vote thieves,” Banerjee declared. “They are the biggest dacoit party.
Bangla-birodi BJP hatao, desh bachao (remove anti-Bengal BJP, save the country).” She intensified her attack, citing reported incidents of violence and discrimination against Bengali-speaking migrants and accusing the central government of systematically undermining Bengal’s dignity by withholding funds.
The Assembly’s atmosphere quickly grew toxic. Slogan-shouting and paper-throwing dominated proceedings, leading Speaker Biman Banerjee to suspend BJP chief whip Shankar Ghosh and MLA Agnimitra Paul for persistent disruption.
Marshals were forced to intervene, dragging Ghosh from the chamber amid reports he fainted and required hospitalization, while Paul was escorted out by women marshals. Outside the Assembly, hostilities continued.
