At a time when the Trinamul Congress is fiercely attacking the BJP over NRC notices allegedly sent to a Rajbanshi man in Cooch Behar from Assam, newly-appointed BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya delivered a defiant counter from the heart of North Bengal.
“Hindus will neither accept NRC certificates nor seek CAA certificates,” Bhattacharya declared at a public felicitation meeting. “A Hindu will walk up and say, ‘I am a Hindu. I could not stay in Bangladesh due to the circumstances. I came to India under compulsion. I have no Bangladeshi documents or mark sheets. Because this land is mine — and I was driven out of it once.’”
Taking aim at the ruling party, Bhattacharya said: “What Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi had envisioned — the BJP is now implementing. Congress failed to do so. We are fulfilling that historic promise.”
Highlighting ethnic and religious persecution in Bangladesh, Bhattacharya said, “We share blood ties with the Rajbanshi and Matua communities across the border. The atrocities in Bangladesh are not limited to Hindus. Christians, Buddhists, and even sections of pro-Awami League Muslims are being oppressed. The time has come for a united resistance — humanity is under attack in Bangladesh.”
Directly targeting Trinamul Congress and its leadership, Bhattacharya slammed chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s upcoming July 16 march “to protect Bengali pride.”
“If she loves Bengal so much, why didn’t TMC field a Bengali candidate against Adhir Chowdhury in Berhampore? Where did the Asansol candidate come from? What kind of Bengali pride is this?” he questioned.
He further alleged a covert alliance brewing between TMC, CPI-M, and Congress. “As elections near, Trinamul will deepen its secret romance with CPI-M and Congress. This alliance will only worsen the plight of migrant labourers.”
Launching a scathing ideological attack, he said: “Politics is not about offering namaz or Harinam sankirtan. West Bengal is beginning to resemble 1946 again. It’s time to build a united resistance. Political work must reflect ideology and a clear programme of action.”
“Without leaders like Syama Prasad Mookerjee and Debaprasad Ghosh, you wouldn’t even have the right to speak of Bengal on Indian soil today,” Bhattacharya told the crowd. “Your political narrative has shifted because of us.”
Taking a jab at Mamata’s slogan ‘Egiye Bangla’, he said, “Bengal isn’t moving forward. It is falling behind — especially north Bengal. Trinamul is destroying the natural environment. Illegal sand and stone mining is altering river courses. Forests are being plundered.”
“Uttarkanya exists only in name. Just 24 per cent of the allocated budget is being utilised. The rest is being siphoned off. Even ministers, though eager to appear bold, are under pressure and unable to speak out,” he alleged.