Kolkata: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s fresh salvo against the BJP has led to a political war of words, with the latter accusing her of trying to garner minority votes through her appeasement policy, ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections in the state.
“I am a Hindu and I believe in the Hinduism practised by Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Swami Vivekananda. I do not believe in the ‘Ganda’ (dirty) Dharma propagated by a Jumla party. That has nothing to do with Hinduism. The BJP wants to divide people on the lines of religion and rule the country. I shall not allow that to happen …… if all of you are with me,” Mamata said on Red Road in Kolkata after the Eid prayers.
She claimed that the BJP has resorted to all kinds of provocation to fuel communal strife in the state. “Do not fall into these traps. The West Bengal government stands with the minorities. We will not allow any communal tension in this state. If you ask me, I am a Hindu, I am a Muslim, I am a Christian, I am a Sikh, I am an Indian. What can you do,” she said.
This led to strong criticism from BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla, who said that the 3 Ms of the Trinamool Congress no longer stand for Ma, Mati and Manush, but Muslims, Mafia and Money.
“Hindu dharam ka karo apmaan, yahi ban chuki hai Mamata Banerjee aur I.N.D.I.A ki pehchaan (The INDI Alliance and Mamata Banerjee are now recognised for insulting Hinduism). We have seen Mamata Banerjee berating India’s growth on foreign soil, but she also hates Hindu religion so much, it seems, that sometimes opposing Jai Shri Ram, sometimes their leaders make all kinds of commentary on Maa Sita, sometimes we have seen on Kali Maa, and now they have made this comment on Hindu Dharam,” Poonawala posted on ‘X’.
