NEW DELHI: West Bengal chief minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee used the 81st anniversary of the Quit India Movement on Wednesday as an opportunity to call out what she called BJP’s policy of “divide and rule”.
After paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, who launched the Quit India Movement in 1942 to drive out the British rulers, Banerjee said that the saffron camp wants to divide the country into pieces (tukde-tukde) by stoking communal and ethnic violence.
“Manipur has been burning for the past four months. However, the Central government appears unmoved, seemingly indifferent to the turmoil. It appears they are aiming to disrupt the nation through ‘tukde-tukde’ tactics,” she said in her address.
The CM further said: “BJP prioritizes power over people’s welfare and its focus remains on spreading falsehoods to secure electoral victories.”
The term “tukde tukde gang” is often used by the BJP against opposition parties to allege that they are a threat to the country’s integrity.
In a pointed remark, the chief minister also scrutinized the prime minister’s performance, stating, “The PM has fallen short on delivering a fraction of his pledges and assertions. Promising free rations, especially when elections loom, raises questions about the sudden cessation of this initiative.”
The ongoing monsoon session of parliament has witnessed sustained uproar, with the opposition uniting to demand PM Modi’s response on the situation in Manipur.
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Banerjee also highlighted the plight of Dalits across the nation, citing incidents in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.”Dalits continue to endure oppression and humiliation, often resulting in fatal encounters. Manipur’s relentless turmoil has yet to stir a response from the Central government.”
Earlier in the day, Union home minister Amit Shah told the Lok Sabha invoked the Quit India Movement to attack opposition parties over corruption, and politics of dynasty and appeasement.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee inaugurated 437 projects and laid foundation stones for 246 initiatives across West Bengal on the occasion.