Mamata launches scathing attack on BJP over saffron practice gear used by Indian cricket team

Two days before the World Cup final and at a period when cricket fever is rife in India, Mamata Banerjee launched an assault on the BJP on Friday over the saffron color of the practice gear used by the Indian cricket team.

The chief minister of Bengal said, "Renaming everything... painting everything saffron," at the opening ceremony for several Jagaddhatri Pujas in Posta Bazar.

"I think our Indian players will win the World Cup, and we are proud of them." They have become saffron too, bhi gerua bana diya! They are now practicing in saffron. This is unlike anything I have ever seen.

On November 6, Mamata made a jab at the Prime Minister in relation to the name of the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, where Australia and India will play in Sunday's World Cup final, without naming him.

"I don't get stadiums built in my name," Mamata had once said. I don't need attention. I don't need it.

She continued where she left off on Friday, stating that she didn't feel compelled to have anything done in her or her parents' names.

"Several people had proposed after my parents' deaths that... I had said no. Her parents and I had never wished it, the head of Trinamul Congress said, adding that the only thing she wanted was to be able to live a life that was genuinely compassionate.

She persisted in making fun of the BJP-led Centre's penchant for media attention. "Everyone will really remember those who are remembered by the general public. Have you found out? She said that even the Metro stations were painted saffron.

Bringing up Mayawati's self-portrait in Uttar Pradesh, the leader of the Bahujan Samaj Party, Mamata said she had never heard of or seen anybody else do something like in India.

Everything is now done under the moniker NaMoste, which seems to be a reference to the prime minister. Not to the people, namaste. This just cannot continue. I have no objections; please act in the nation's name," she said.

"As long as the individual is a true national leader, I have no problem with it being done in the name of any Gujarati leader. Select an individual from any region in India, such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, or south India, and proceed accordingly.

Drawing parallels between the Hindi term "cheez" and the English word "cheese," she said, "But what is this? Does it sound right? That's not cheese, that's dikhaney ki cheez (What's this? This cheese is for display purposes only; it is not intended for consumption.

She reminded the BJP of the fleeting nature of political power in a democracy and charged it of having prioritized winning elections by whatever means necessary above the skill of winning people over.

"Occasionally, but not always, showing off can have some advantages," she said.

"Stay united, listen to none," she pleaded with the populace. Prior to elections, they engage in riot-mongering. They promote, we work. The nation is being divided apart. There is no work being done.

Bengal will lead the nation once again, Mamata said as she concluded her address.

"It gives me great pride to declare that Bengal will take the lead in any crisis the nation faces," she said.

Earlier in the World Cup, Mamata had complained to party and government colleagues about the way the BJP-run cricket body was managing important things like ticket distribution and venue allotment.

She has already voiced her displeasure with the BJP's attempts to seize total control of the Indian cricket board, particularly in the wake of Sourav Ganguly's abrupt resignation as BCCI president last year.