BJP Accuses Mamata Banerjee of Divisive Politics on Eid, Calls for Economic Development Focus

On Thursday, the BJP accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of seeking to divide society and using vote-bank tactics on the occasion of Eid.

Samik Bhattacharya, a BJP MP for the Rajya Sabha, stated that instead of the chief minister trying to "sow the seeds of division" among people, they wanted to hear her strategy for the economic elevation of all ethnicities.

"The Chief Minister attempted to sow the seeds of division and polarization for her narrow vote bank politics, instead of spreading the message of amity, brotherhood among the Muslim brethren at the gathering on Red Road," Bhattacharya said.

Speaking to a crowd here on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, Banerjee said that there would be attempts to "engineer riots" in the run-up to elections and pleaded with those taking part in the event "not to fall prey to the plot".

Eid-ul-Fitr is the celebration that ends the month of Ramadan, when people fast.

"The Uniform Civil Code, the National Register of Citizens, and the Citizenship (Amendment) Act shall not be accepted. Speaking to the assembly on the Red Road, Banerjee said, "Nobody will be able to harm us if we live united."

The chief minister should, according to the BJP leader, provide a plan for the development of West Bengal, which is the collective property of all groups, and enhance their economic standing.

Rather than discussing strategies to halt young people's migration from Bengal to other states, which includes Muslims, she attempted to incite conflict amongst communities ahead of other major holidays. The BJP state spokesman said, "This is dangerous politics, and we call on the people of the state to not fall prey to the machinations of TMC supremo."

The chief minister merely brought up the "hatred-filled, divisive, communal agenda of BJP-RSS which are using central forces to disrupt the communal amity in Bengal," according to Trinamool Congress spokesman Trinankur Bhattacharya.

"We don't need guidance from the BJP. The chief minister spends the whole year among the populace. She is one of the leaders who performs Maa Durga's "chokshudan" in pandals, starts pujas, takes part in the Chhat festival, and goes to the Eid congregation.

She also goes to the get-togethers for iftar before the festival. Trinamul Chhatra Parishad state president Bhattacharya told PTI that the chief minister celebrates Sikh holidays in Gurudwara and Christmas at churches.

He went on to say that the "policy of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre and its discriminatory attitude toward West Bengal" is the reason why laborers have been compelled to relocate to other states.