The political climate in India has taken a sharp turn following a series of fiery statements from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. In the wake of protests over the brutal gangrape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata, Banerjee issued a strong warning to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing his party, the BJP, of instigating violence in Bengal.
Banerjee claimed that Modi was using the tragedy to “cause fire in Bengal” and threatened that if violence continues, it would spread to other states, ultimately leading to the downfall of Modi’s government. “If you burn Bengal, Assam, North-East, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Delhi too shall burn! We will topple your chair,” she warned.
This statement has sparked a political firestorm, with BJP leaders and chief ministers from various states condemning Banerjee’s inflammatory remarks. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma, in a sharp retort, accused Banerjee of “threatening Assam” and warned her not to “burn India with your politics of failure.”
Assam Minister Pijush Hazarika, echoing similar sentiments, condemned Banerjee’s statement, stating that she cannot “bully” or “threaten” them. He also criticized her inability to control law and order in her own state, questioning her authority to issue such warnings.
BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi further added to the outrage, accusing Banerjee of directly threatening doctors with her statement. The BJP has accused Banerjee of using the tragedy for political gain and of deliberately stoking tensions between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the BJP.
The heated exchange underscores the deep political divide in India, with the situation in Bengal further exacerbating existing tensions. The protests surrounding the doctor’s murder, while driven by a genuine sense of outrage and grief, have become a focal point for political maneuvering, leaving the nation on edge and the future uncertain.
