Chief Minister's Faceoff, Himanta Biswa Sarma responds to Mamata Banerjee over her 'burn' remark
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma strongly criticized West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday after she referenced Assam while comparing the protests in Kolkata to the crisis in Bangladesh. Mamata had warned that if Bengal "burns," so would Assam and Delhi, prompting Sarma to accuse her of trying to ignite unrest across India with her "politics of failure."
Sarma responded via a social media post, challenging Banerjee's remarks and urging her not to incite division in the country. He stated, "Didi, how dare you threaten Assam? Don't show us your bloodshot eyes. Don't try to set India on fire with your politics of failure. It does not suit you to speak divisive language."
Backing Sarma, Assam BJP leader Piyush Hazarika also condemned Mamata's comments, asserting that she cannot intimidate or threaten Assam, and accusing her of failing to maintain law and order in her own state. Union Minister and Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar echoed these sentiments, suggesting that Banerjee's words reflect an "anti-national" mindset unbecoming of a leader in a constitutional role.
Banerjee's controversial statements came during the Trinamool Congress's student wing foundation day event, where she targeted the BJP over the violence during the bandh and the 'Nabanna Abhijan' protest march to the state secretariat. The West Bengal government has been under fire for its handling of the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at the state-run RG Kar Hospital, which has sparked widespread protests.
Banerjee referenced the student protests in Bangladesh that led to the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government, drawing a parallel to the current unrest in Bengal. She also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of fueling the violence in Bengal, warning that if Bengal were to burn, several other states, including Assam, would also be affected.
The BJP's 12-hour bandh on Wednesday saw clashes between party workers, TMC supporters, and police in various parts of Bengal, with reports of bomb attacks and violence. Protests have continued to erupt across the state, with the West Bengal Junior Doctors' Forum organizing a rally in Kolkata demanding justice for the murdered trainee doctor.